A handful of fly fishermen also catch white marlin, but that is a big-boat, blue-water endeavor.

After a few jumps and a 10-minute battle, a white marlin was boated and measured by the professional crew.

Playa del Carmen fishing charter boats routinely catch both blue and white marlin.

While the area has its share of resident blue marlin and white marlin, it's the annual migration which really gets things jumping.

Recent genetic studies have suggested that white marlin are a phenotype of striped marlin.

A number of hybrids between white marlin and the Atlantic longbill spearfish have also been recorded.

Although generally considered to be a rare and solitary species relative to other similar fish, white marlin occur in small groups consisting of several individuals.

In 2010, Greenpeace International has added the white marlin to its seafood red list.

For example, the white marlin has a dorsal fin with a curved front edge and is covered with black spots.

Stocks of blue and white marlin are severely depleted in the Atlantic and they do need protection.