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Sailfish
Species Information
| Scientific Name: | Istiophorus albicans |
| Common Names: | sailfish, sails |
| Environment: | Offshore |
| Ideal Temp: | 70-82°F (21-28°C) |
About Sailfish
Sailfish are two species of fish in the genus Istiophorus, living in warmer sections of all the oceans of the world. They are predominately blue to gray in color and have a characteristic erectile dorsal fin known as a sail, which often stretches the entire length of the back. Another notable characteristic is the elongated bill, resembling that of the swordfish and other marlins. They are therefore described as billfish in sport fishing circles.
Both species of sailfish grow quickly, reaching 1.2–1.5 metres (3 ft 10 in–4 ft 10 in) in length in a single year, and feed on the surface or at mid-depths on smaller pelagic forage fish and squid. Individuals have been clocked at speeds of up to 110 kilometres per hour (68 mph), which is the highest speed reliably reported in any water creature.
Sailfish inhabit tropical and subtropical waters near land masses, usually in depths over 10 fathoms (60 feet). Along the Gulf Stream they are usually found around the 120 feet line. Pelagic and migratory, sailfish usually travel alone or in small groups. They appear to feed mostly in midwater along the edges of reefs or current eddies.
The sail is normally kept folded down and to the side when swimming, but it may be raised when the sailfish feels threatened or excited, making the fish appear much larger than it actually is. This tactic has also been observed during feeding, when a group of sailfish use their sails to "herd" a school of fish or squid.
Sailfish are highly prized game fish and are known for their incredible jumps and great speed. They can appear in a startling array of colors, from subdued browns and grays to vibrant purples and even silver. Their body colors are often highlighted by stripes of iridescent blue and silver dots. Sailfish can change their colors almost instantly - a change controlled by their nervous system. The sailfish can rapidly turn its body light blue with yellowish stripes when excited, confusing its prey and making capture easier, while signalling its intentions to fellow sailfish.
There are 2 species of sailfish: Istiophorus albicans (Atlantic) or Istiophorus platypterus (Indo-Pacific)
Sailfish Fishing
| World Record: | 64 kg (141 lb 1 oz) Luanda , Angola |
| # Fish Caught: | 147831 documented in database. |
| Earliest Record: | 2/10/1859 12:00:00 AM and located at 24.63570, -82.88406. |
| Latest Record: | 2/1/2029 12:00:00 AM and located at -3.16667, 40.16667. |
| Common Techniques: | Trolling |
| Popular Lure Types: | Trolling |
| Fishing Spots: | 15481 Sailfish fishing spots. |
Latest Sailfish Fishing Reports and Spots
7-2-24 - 7/2/2024 4:51:59 PM
With the long weekend ahead it looks like there will be plenty of options for anglers. Offshore anglers have been catching Dolphin in 100′ of w (
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fellow mountaineers on board today from Southern West Virginia Mercer County. pretty day and the crew caught nice mess of dolphin and a blackfin (
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SHOP NOTE: July 4th Hours 7am-12pm OFFSHORE- Nice looking forecast headed into the long holiday weekend. Dolphin reports were a bit sow this we (
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Today was another exciting day on the Pacific waters with Big Eye 2 Sportfishing out of the beautiful Marina Pez Vela in Quepos Costa Rica. As (
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96 Recfishwest Newsletter View this email in your browser Recfishwest Fishing Report 28/06/24 Red emperor were rarely seen throughout Exmouth G (
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The Cooper family on board today. We caught a mess of dolphin and a few tunas and they said they were good on the meat and wanted to look for so (
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In the heart of the Pacific off the coast of Quepos Costa Rica Big Eye 2 Sportfishing had an exceptional day out on the water. As the owner and (
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The waters off Quepos Costa Rica have once again proven their worth as a premier sport fishing destination. Today aboard the Big Eye 2 we exper (
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6-19-24 - 6/6/2019 2:21:00 PM
Another week of blustery weather has limited anglers options but for those braving it there have been some bright spots. Offshore anglers that (
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96 Recfishwest Newsletter View this email in your browser Recfishwest Fishing Report 21/06/24 Now that our South-West regions have copped a bit (
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