WHITE MARLIN
Season - May to September
Current all-tackle record: 181 pounds, Vitoria, Brazil, December 8, 1979
The White Marlin occurs throughout the Atlantic Ocean. Though this pelagic and migratory species is usually found in deep blue tropical and warm, temperate waters, it frequently comes in close to shore where waters aren't much deeper than 8 fathoms.
Its most characteristic feature is the rounded, rather than pointed, tips of the pectoral fins, first dorsal fin and first anal fin. The first dorsal fin resembles that of the Striped Marlin in that it is usually as high as or higher than the greatest body depth. It differs from that of the Striped Marlin, or any other Marlin, in that both margins are convex. The flat, movable pectoral fins can easily be folded flush against the sides of the body. The lateral line is visible and straight.
In overall appearance the white marlin is generally lighter in colour and tends to show greener than other Marlins. Several light-blue or lavender vertical bars may show on the flanks, especially when the fish is feeding or leaping. Some specimens have a scattering of black or purple spots on the first dorsal and anal fins.

SPEARFISH SPEARFISH
Season - May to September
Current all-tackle record for Mediterranean Spearfish: 90 pounds, Madeira Island, Portugal June 2, 1980
Current all-tackle record for Longbill Spearfish: 94 pounds, Puerto Rico, Canary Islands - July 28, 1994
The Spearfish occurs on open ocean along the continental shelf and current lines, ocean-mountains and canyons. Floating logs and weed beds may also hold Spearfish.
The Spearfish can be distinguished from other Billfishes by its slender, lightweight body, short bill and dorsal fin, which is higher than in the Marlins and lower than in the Sailfish. The vent is located well in front of the anal fin. The bill of the Shortbill Spearfish is barely longer than its lower jaw, where as in the Longbill Spearfish it is about twice as long but still quite short by Billfish standards. The pectoral fins barely reach the curve of the lateral line. The lateral line is single and arches above the pectoral fins. The dorsal fin is bright blue and has no spots. The vertical bars on the body are never as prominent as in other Billfish and may show only slightly or not at all. They feed at or near the surface.

BIG EYE TUNA
Season - February to June
Current all-tackle record: 392 pounds, 6 ounces Puerto Rico Gran Canaria July 25, 1996
Found in warm temperature waters of the Atlantic, Pacific and IndianOceans, this schooling, pelagic, seasonally migratory species is suspected of making rather extensive migrations.The pectoral fins may reach the second dorsal fin. The second dorsal and anal fins never reach back as far as those large yellow fin tuna. It has a total of 23-31 gill rakers on the first arch. The margin of the liver is striated. The two dorsal fins are close-set, the first first having 13-14 spines and the second 14-16 rays. The anal fin has 11-15 rays. On either side of the caudal peduncle there is a strong lateral keel between two small keels that are located slightly farther back on the tail.
The scales are small except on the anterior corselet. The vent is oval or teardrp shaped, not round as the albacore. The first dorsal fin is deep yellow. The second dorsal fin and the anal fin are blackish brown or yellow and may be edged with black.
Its diet includes squid, crustaceans, mullet, sardines, mackerels and some deep-water species.

ALBACORE
Season - October to January
Current all-tackle record: 88 pounds, 2 ounces Gran Canaria, Spain, November 19, 1977
Found worldwide in tropical and warm temperate seas. Pelagic and migratory. Usually remains in clear blue tropical or warm waters but makes seasonal migrations into colder zones.
The most distinguishing feature of this member of the tuna and mackerel family is its very long pectoral fins that reach to a point beyond the anal fin. The deepest part of the albacore's body is near the second dorsal fin, rather than near the middle of the first dorsal fin as in other tunas, and the vent is round rather than oval or teardrop shaped. The fins are dark yellowish, except for the white trailing edge of the tail. The anal finlets are black.
They feed on mullet, sardines, squids, herrings, anchovies and other small fishes.

YELLOWFIN TUNA
Season - February to May
Current all-tackle record: 388 pounds, 12 ounces, Isla San Benedito Revillagigedo Islands, April 1, 1977
Occurs worldwide in deep, warm temperate oceanic waters. It is both pelagic and seasonally migratory, but has been known to come fairly close to shore.
Most large yellowfins have overextended second dorsal and anal fins that may reach more than halfway back to the tail base in some large specimens. The pectoral fins in adults reach to the origin of the second dorsal fin, but never beyond the second dorsal fin. This is probably the most colorful of all tunas. The back is blue-black, fading to silver on the lower flanks and belly. A golden yellow or iridescent blue stripe runs from the eye of the tail. All the fins and finlets are golden yellow. The diet depends largely on local abundance and includes flying fish, other small fish, squid and crustaceans.

SKIPJACK TUNA
Season - February to September
Current all-tackle record: 45 pound, 4 ounces, Flathead Bank, Mexico, November 16, 1996
Frequent in tropical and subtropical seas usually in coastal and oceanic waters. It is common throughout the tropical Atlantic. Skipjack tuna are schooling, pelagic, migratory, deep-water species. The presence of stripes on the belly and the absence of markings on the back are sufficient to distinguish the skipjack tuna from all other similar species. The lower flanks and belly are silvery with 4 to 6 prominent, dark longitudinal stripes running from just behind the corselet back towards the tail. This is a gregarious fish and a fast swimmer. It feeds near the surface, forming schools composed to 50.000 or more individuals.

WAHOO
Season - September to January
Current all-tackle record: 158 pounds, 8 ounces, Loreto, Mexico, June 10, 1996
Found worldwide in tropical and warm temperate seas. Pelagic and seasonally migratory, it tends to be a loner or travel in small groups of 2 to 6 fish. The upper jaw is movable and the teeth are large, strong and literally compressed. The well-defined lateral line dips noticeably near the middle of the first dorsal fin. The back is a brilliant, deep, blue sometimes described as metallic or electric blue. Bright blue vertical bands, or "tiger stripes", flow down the sides onto the silver and sometimes join into pairs on the belly.
It is found around wrecks and reefs where smaller fish that is feeds upon are abundant, but it may also be found far out at sea. It is reputed to be one of the fastest fish on the sea, attaining speeds of 50 mph (80 Km) and more. The first scorching run may peel off several hundreds of yards of line in seconds. Occasionally this fish jumps on the strike and often shakes its head violently when hooked in an effort to fee itself.

DORADO
Season - May to September
Current all-tackle record: 87 pounds, Papagallo Gulf, Costa Rica, September 25, 1976
Found worldwide in tropical and warm temperate seas, the dorado is pelagic, schooling and migratory. Though occasionally caught from an ocean pier, it is basically a deep-water specie, inhabiting the surface of the open ocean.
The dorado is a distinctive fish, both for its shape and its colors. Though it is among the most colorful fish in the sea, the colors are quite variable and defy an accurate simple description. Generally, when the fish is alive in the water is rich iridescent blue or blue-green dorsally, gold or silvery gold on the lower flanks and silvery white or yellow on the belly. The sides are sprinkled with a mixture of dark and light spots, ranging from black or blue to golden. The dorsal fin is rich blue, and the anal fin is golden silvery. When removed from the water, the colors fluctuate between blue, green and yellow. After death turns into uniformly yellow or silvery gray.
Large males have high, vertical foreheads, while the female's forehead is rounded. Males grow larger than females.They are extremely fast swimmers and feed extensively on flying fish and squid as well as other small fish.