scubaseason

Blue Marlin

Makaira nigricans

Sighting evidence at Dollabarat, São Miguel

Blue marlin pass through Dollabarat on seasonal offshore feeding circuits from July through October, occasionally descending from the surface to investigate chum trails alongside the sharks. Encounters are unpredictable but the site lies along a well-documented North Atlantic billfish corridor, and local captains report sightings on a significant proportion of summer pelagic dives. Their iridescent flanks and scything tail are unmistakable even at the edge of blue-water visibility.

Evidence at this site

No confirmed records on file at this site

Blue Marlin is listed as a curated species here based on historical reports.

How is this calculated?

Sighting evidence is compiled from iNaturalist observation records within a set proximity radius, filtered for quality-grade observations. “Last confirmed” is the date of the most recent research-grade record. Record count covers a rolling 24-month window. Confidence reflects record count, recency, and consistency of seasonal signal.