Striped Marlin
Striped marlin are Australia's most accessible billfish, running the full length of the east coast from the Coral Sea to Tasmania and appearing off Western Australia around Perth and Rottnest.
The NSW Far South Coast — Bermagui, Ulladulla, Jervis Bay — is the country's standout fishery, where fish stack up over offshore canyons from late summer through autumn.
Smaller and more slender than black or blue marlin, they're the billfish most recreational boat anglers here will realistically encounter.
Scientific Name: Kajikia audax
Also known as Stripey, stripie, beaky, beakie, beak, Pacific striped marlin
- Dark blue-black back, silver-white belly, with roughly 20 vivid cobalt blue vertical bars on the sides that light up to near-luminescent lavender when the fish is excited — the most reliable field mark.
- The tallest part of the first dorsal fin is roughly equal to the body depth — higher relative to body size than any other marlin — and the pectoral fins fold flat against the body (unlike black marlin).
- Thinnest bill of any marlin species; body noticeably more slender than black or blue marlin.
- Typically encountered at 50–80 kg on the NSW coast; fish to 100 kg are possible, with the record approaching 200 kg.
What to know
Habitat Distribution
- Native to Australian waters; the most widely distributed billfish here, ranging from Queensland's Coral Sea south to Tasmania on the east coast, and present off WA around Perth and Rottnest Island.
- Strictly oceanic — found on or beyond the continental shelf, rarely entering coastal waters except where deep drop-offs, seamounts or boundary currents push close to shore.
- The East Australian Current (EAC) is the key driver on the east coast, carrying warm water and baitfish south along NSW each summer and autumn.
- Tolerates a wider temperature range than other marlins — comfortable from about 16°C to 28°C — which is why it reaches Tasmanian waters that black and blue marlin never visit.
Key Locations
- Bermagui, NSW — the heart of the Far South Coast fishery, with offshore canyons that concentrate fish from late summer through autumn.
- Ulladulla and Jervis Bay, NSW — consistent striped marlin grounds where the EAC pushes warm water and slimy mackerel schools over the shelf edge.
- Port Stephens to Eden corridor, NSW — the main east coast run, covering the productive stretch from the Hunter region south to the Victorian border.
- Rottnest Island and Perth FADs, WA — the primary west coast location, where stripies appear less predictably but can show in numbers around fish aggregating devices and seamounts.
Specific Spots
- Offshore canyons and reef edges along the NSW Far South Coast (Bermagui, Ulladulla, Jervis Bay) concentrate fish when slimy mackerel schools stack up over the structure — the bait brings the marlin.
- FADs (fish aggregating devices) and seamounts off Perth and Rottnest Island in WA are the main focal points in the west, where stripies occasionally mix with blue marlin over mid-water bait schools.
- The thermocline edge — where warm EAC water meets cooler inshore water — is the single most productive zone to troll; sea surface temperature charts help locate it.
- Striped marlin generally swim above the thermocline, so surface and near-surface trolling spreads cover the productive water column.
Striped Marlin FAQ
Answers from onWater's species guide.
What are the best lures and bait for Striped Marlin?
Skirted trolling lures in the 6–10 inch range outperform larger offerings for striped marlin, smaller profiles match the baitfish they're actually eating and convert more short strikes; popular head shapes include jet heads and cup-face designs in blue/white, pink/white, and black/purple.
When is the best time to fish for Striped Marlin?
NSW Far South Coast (Bermagui, Ulladulla, Jervis Bay): January through May is the peak, with the fishery building as the EAC pushes south in late summer. Northern NSW and Gold Coast: fish pass through on the northward migration in autumn and early winter, producing shorter but sometimes intense windows of action.
How do you catch Striped Marlin?
The dominant approach is offshore trolling from a game boat, running a spread of skirted lures or rigged baits over canyon edges and along temperature breaks identified on SST charts.
What do Striped Marlin eat?
Feeds on a wide variety of fish, squid, and crustaceans; on the NSW south coast, slimy mackerel are the dominant forage when the fishery peaks, trolled skip baits or lures that match that baitfish size and profile draw the most strikes.
Where do Striped Marlin live?
Native to Australian waters; the most widely distributed billfish here, ranging from Queensland's Coral Sea south to Tasmania on the east coast, and present off WA around Perth and Rottnest Island.
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