https://www.americanoceans.org/facts/types-of-billfish/
There are four main types of billfish inhabiting the tropical, subtropical, and temperate waters worldwide: marlin, swordfish, sailfish, and spearfish. Keep reading to learn more about the different types of billfish you may come across in the ocean and the unique characteristics that distinguish them from each other.

https://fishanywhere.com/blog/the-different-types-of-billfish-species-and-characteristics
The Different Types of Billfish: Species and Characteristics. Blog. Billfish are some of the ocean's most prized creatures among anglers, famed not only for their impressive size and speed but also for their long-intertwined history with sport fishing. Characterized by their long, spear-like bills and large bodies, billfish roam the tropical

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uaIQdz1jgmA
00:00 Introduction00:06 Swordfish00:16 Atlantic sailfish00:26 Indo-Pacific sailfish 00:36 Black marlin00:46 Indo-Pacific blue marlin 00:56 Atlantic blue marl

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billfish
The shape, size, position and colour of the dorsal fin varies with the type of billfish, and can be a simple way to identify a billfish species. For example, the white marlin has a dorsal fin with a curved front edge and is covered with black spots. The huge dorsal fin, or sail of the sailfish is kept retracted most of the time.

https://www.marlinmag.com/billfish-identification/
Since 2006, scientists have identified key characteristics that allow one to differentiate white marlin from roundscale spearfish. The roundscale spearfish has a different position of the anal vent relative to the anal fin, has longer branchiostegals—the bony elements beneath the gill plates—and has no spots on the dorsal fin.

https://billfish.org/education/what-are-billfish/
The blue marlin is notably the largest of billfish species. Blue marlin are characterized by a cylindrical body shape, two dorsal fins (one with a steep slope and one smaller toward the posterior of the organism), and unlike the black marlin the pectoral fins are not rigid. They are named for their cobalt blue dorsal coloration, which fades

https://oceaninfo.com/animals/billfish/
Billfish are a group of predatory fish with long, spear-like bills. Several different billfish species include marlin, sailfish, and swordfish. Billfish reproduce by laying eggs, with females typically only laying a few thousand eggs at a time. Billfish are threatened by overfishing, habitat loss, pollution, and climate change.

https://fishingbooker.com/blog/billfish-fishing-101/
Cabo San Lucas, Mexico: If you want multiple types of Billfish in a single day, this is the place.Blue, Black, and Striped Marlin are all here, as are Sailfish, and even Swordfish if you know where to look. Kailua-Kona, Hawaii: Kona is a magnet for big Billfish, with the same four Marlin species that call Cabo home.Hawaii doesn't get many Sailfish for some reason, but they do get a lot of

https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/resource/outreach-materials/atlantic-swordfish-and-billfish-identification-guide
Provides guidance on how to identify species of Atlantic swordfish and billfishes. File/Document. Outreach Materials |. New England/Mid-Atlantic. Southeast. Last updated by Office of Sustainable Fisheries on 03/04/2022. Swordfish Billfish. Stay informed of all the latest regional news around NOAA Fisheries. Provides guidance on how to identify

https://www.usharbors.com/2022/04/fishing-101-what-is-a-billfish/
Swordfish descend much deeper than other billfish species, often spending their days in waters around 1800 feet, and ascending into shallow water to feed during the night. If targeting swordfish during the day, a common technique is "deep dropping". Deep dropping for swordfish can be done on conventional heavy tackle, using a variety of

https://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/superfish-infographic-all-about-billfish/1005/
Infographic: All About Billfish. June 18, 2012. Billfish—which include swordfish (family Xphiidae ), marlin, sailfish, and spearfish (all members of the family Istiophoridae )—are best known

https://www.britannica.com/animal/billfish
The blue marlin ( Makaira nigricans ), found worldwide, is a very large fish, sometimes attaining a weight of 450 kg (1,000 pounds) or more. It is deep blue with a silvery belly and is often barred with lighter vertical stripes. The black marlin ( Istiompax indica) grows as large or larger than the blue. It is known to reach a weight of more

https://fishtrack.com/article/billfish-identifier
The easiest way to distinguish a black marlin from other billfish is to look at the pectoral fins. The black marlin is the only marlin with rigid pec fins that cannot be folded flat against its flanks. Blue marlin are often considered the most challenging of all the billfish to catch. The fight of a blue marlin is punctuated with bursts of

https://fishcostarica.org/2019/08/how-to-identify-billfish-species/
Regarding the true billfishes—the scientific family Istiophoridae—luckily, we're only dealing with nine species: blue marlin, black marlin, striped marlin, white marlin, sailfish, longbill spearfish, shortbill spearfish, Mediterranean spearfish, and roundscale spearfish.

https://www.mossyoak.com/our-obsession/blogs/fishing/billfishing-101-everything-you-need-to-know-to-get-started
Billfish are predatory and react more aggressively to live bait. The key to live baiting is keeping your bait alive for as long as possible, so the vibrations from the panicking fish attract the billfish. Most professional anglers recommend small tuna, Spanish mullet, and squid to lure the biggest game. Artificial Lures.

https://andrewblitman.com/2015/01/28/the-evolutionary-history-of-billfish/
In other words, we should re-examine the way we classify modern billfish species. Because recent DNA evidence strongly suggests that billfish diverged from flatfish (not tuna, mackerel, or other scombrids) (Little 2010), we should also re-examine the way we classify extinct billfish species. A missing link between flatfish and billfish could be

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billfish_in_the_Indian_Ocean
The use of tags and data gathered from recaptured billfish provides valuable scientific data on their growth rates, migratory patterns and stock assessment. The African Billfish Foundation was established in 1991 as a nonprofit organisation for conservation and research of the billfish species in the Indian Ocean.

https://panamasportfishing.com/what-are-billfish/
Sailfish are one of the smaller billfish species. Built for speed, they are the fastest fish in the ocean and can reach speeds exceeding 110 km/h. There are two different subspecies of sailfish: the Atlantic Sailfish and the Pacific Sailfish and inhabit the epipelagic zones of the tropical and warm temperate waters of the Atlantic and Pacific

https://surfsupmagazine.com/billfish/
Spearfish. The spearfish is a pelagic billfish that inhabits open ocean waters. It is typically characterized by its lean, lightweight appearance and dark blue, spotless dorsal fin. Although some species of spearfish can weigh up to 115 pounds and grow as long as 100 inches, most average between 50-75 inches and 20-60 pounds.

https://thereelbaja.com/species/billfish/
The striped marlin, blue marlin, and sailfish belong to a family of fish species generally called billfish. Billfish have broad, flat bodies and dorsal fins that are close together toward the rear of their body. Most marlin we catch are in the 5-6 foot range and weigh up to 200lbs. They are large, powerful predators that have a long, swordlike

https://billfish.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/SF.V12_web.6.pdf
ated the Cretaceous seas. Fortunately, when it comes to evolution the extinction of one species is a. opportunity for another. This was the case for billfish, which first appeared in the fossil record during the period tha. followed, the Paleocene.The earliest fossils of billfish were found in Turkmenistan about ten years ago and belong to the

https://captainexperiences.com/blog/billfish-the-best-time-to-catch-them-where-to-go
The Three Major Billfish Species. Billfish is the general name used to describe some pelagic species that have a distinctive spear-shaped bill attached to their upper jaw. These fish include sailfish, swordfish, marlin, and spearfish. Of these fish, the first three mentioned are the most sought after because of their size, strength, and elusive

https://billfish.org/
The Billfish Foundation (TBF) is the only non-profit organization dedicated solely to conserving and enhancing billfish populations around the world.