Open Year-Round
Billfish
Family Istiophoridae
Also known as: Marlin, sailfish, spearfish
DPIRD Category
Large Pelagic
Peak Season
October - April
Difficulty
Expert
Fight Rating
★★★★★
Regulations & Limits
LARGE PELAGIC
Limits by Bioregion
West Coast
N/A
Species not commonly found in this region
South Coast
N/A
Species not commonly found in this region
Gascoyne
N/A
Species not commonly found in this region
Pilbara
N/A
Species not commonly found in this region
North Coast (Kimberley)
N/A
Species not commonly found in this region
ℹ️ Regulations can change. Always verify current rules at rules.fish.wa.gov.au
Size & Weight
| Typical Size | 200-350 cm |
| Max Size | 500 cm+ |
| Typical Weight | 50-200 kg |
| Max Weight | 900 kg+ (blue marlin) |
Habitat
Where: Deep offshore waters, current edges, temperature breaks and around FADs
Depth: Surface to 200m+
ID Features: Long spear-like bill, tall dorsal fin (sail in sailfish), powerful crescent-shaped tail
Season
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Peak
Available
Poor
Peak: October - April | Water Temp: 24-30°C
How to Catch Billfish
1
Trolling (lures)
Setup
- Line: PE 6-15
- Leader: 200-400lb mono wind-on
Top Lures
- Skirted lures
- Large pushers
- Jets
2
Live baiting
Setup
- Line: PE 6-10
- Leader: 150-300lb mono
Best Baits
- Live skipjack tuna
- Live mackerel
- Live bonito
3
Switch baiting
Setup
- Line: PE 6-10
- Leader: 150-300lb mono
Top Lures
- Teasers
Best Baits
- Dead skip baits
- Live baits
Eating Quality
Flesh: Firm, dense flesh. Varies by species
Best cooked: Smoked, grilled steaks. Most are released (tag and release encouraged)
The Fight
The ultimate game fish. Spectacular aerial displays with repeated jumps, combined with blistering runs and raw power. Tag and release is strongly encouraged.