The White Marlin that look "a little odd" or "slightly off" could actually be the distinct and separate species Roundscale Spearfish.
Good piece detailing the difference:
http://www.sportfishermen.com/2006/10/hatchet-marlin-id/
Some good points here to:
http://www.pswsfa.com/Roundscale_spearfish.htm
This being one of the really choice nuggets:
It is relatively common here in the western Atlantic. Dr. Graves has been collecting DNA samples from every white marlin weighed in at the Mid-Atlantic $500,000 Tournament since 1992. It turns out that the winning white marlin has actually been a roundscale spearfish during a number of those tournaments. Overall, from 1992 through 2006, 18% of the "white marlin" weighed in have actually been roundscale spearfish which shows that these fish are fairly common. It you have done much fishing for white marlin in the mid-Atlantic, you have probably caught a roundscale spearfish.
Can anyone find some old photos of Whites that were actually Spearfish?
I'm looking through my old paper photos.
