Top Black Marlin Fishing Countries

The black marlin (*Istiompax indica*) is one of the world’s most prized game fish, renowned for its immense size, speed, and power, with individuals often exceeding 1,000 pounds. This apex predator inhabits warm, tropical waters of the Indian and Pacific Oceans. The top countries renowned for black marlin fishing include Australia, particularly along the Great Barrier Reef near Cairns, which is considered the global hotspot for trophy-sized specimens. Other significant countries include Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, and Mexico, especially around the Pacific coast of Baja California. While commercial harvest is limited due to the species’ value in sport fishing tourism, artisanal and small-scale fisheries in Southeast Asia and the Pacific Islands also catch black marlin for local consumption. The fishing industry in these countries benefits greatly from recreational anglers, with catch-and-release practices widely promoted to conserve the population and sustain the lucrative sport fishing sector.

Data from FAO. 2025. Global Capture Production. In: Fisheries and Aquaculture.