Striped Marlin

Kajikia audax

The striped marlin (Kajikia audax) is a large, fast-swimming billfish found in the Indo-Pacific. Adults reach 2.5-4 meters in length and weigh up to 190 kg. They display a dark blue dorsal surface, silver flanks, and their namesake vivid vertical stripes that can flash neon blue and purple during hunting excitement, created by rapid chromatophore changes. Their tall, pointed dorsal fin and long, spear-like bill are used to slash through schools of baitfish. They inhabit open ocean waters near continental shelves and around oceanic islands at depths of 0-200 meters. Divers encounter them during seasonal baitball events, particularly off Baja California (Mexico), where they cooperatively herd sardines into tight balls before slashing through them with their bills. These encounters are among the most thrilling in recreational diving, as the marlin display their full range of color-changing abilities while hunting at high speed just meters from divers.