Sailfish
name: Sailfish
other names: Spindlebeak, Bayonetfish
These are the easiest of all the billfish to identify. Their tall, arching dorsal fin is filled with blood vessels and is used to regulate the fish's body temperature and to give bait fish the impression that the sailfish is larger than they actually are. Its back and dorsal fin are dark blue, their sides are silver,with a white belly. The visible lateral line runs from the tail to gill plate. Usually sails have strips that run from the top of the back towards the belly.The bill is usually twice the length of the fish's lower jaw. When watching these fish strike fly's at close range behind a boat, you really get to see these fish light up the colour's are just amazing such a beautifully fish.
Sailfish are the great wonderers of the sea. They will migrate in deep, warm waters, for miles and miles, but they're known to move near shore for feeding.
Sailfish eat squid, octopus, mackerel, mullet, flying fish, needlefish, and other small fish. Although they travel in deep water, they will usually feed in mid-depths. Given the proper bait population, sailfish can exhibit the same group hunting characteristics as white marlin. On good days they can be spotted balling bait fish over reefs. "Balling" occurs when an number of predators herd a school of bait fish into a tight ball near the surface of the water. Two or three predator fish will keep the bait organized while the others feed from the ball. This is also a great sight to sea, as hundreds of small bait fish foam the water in their efforts not to be eaten.
Little is known about the overall life span of sailfish, although through extensive tagging programs we are all starting to learn more about this and other import species of our sea's. It is believed that they can grow up to four or five feet in their first year. It is also believed that Pacific sailfish can grow much larger than their Atlantic counterparts.
There are several methods to catch Sailfish. Sailfish are unbelievable sprinters that can reach up to 68 miles per hours. When hooked, they will dump a lot of line and put on an impressive acrobatic show in their initial run. However they will lose stamina quickly. Throw out an extra bait on heavy spinning gear whenever a sailfish is hooked. They tend to travel in packs ranging from three to 30, making chances for a double hook-up very good. Sails are prime targets for medium-tackle bait-and-switch or fly fishing. Once incited, they will pursue a bait fish longer and more aggressively. Anglers commonly troll medium-sized lures and baits in mid depth waters for these fish. Sometime if they are hungry enough they will happily hit artificial lures. Other times you will need to run lures with fish belly strips added to provide that soft feeling and fish taste as they hit the lure first time. Sometimes if Sails are finicky you can raise their attention with artificial lures but then need to slow the boat right down and switch them onto a freshly cast live bait. This gives anglers a good chance of luring a sailfish from a teaser to a hooked drop back bait. For the ultimate challenge and excitement you can try fly fishing for Sailfish. The boat will troll a pattern of teasers with fresh belly strips attached but no hooks. Once a Sail is raised all members on the boat have to work as a team. All the spare lines have to be quickly taken away from the fish, as the boat is slowed down slowly the rod which has the fish's attention is slow pulled just out of reach each time the Sail try's to hit it. As the Sail is drawn to the centre of the back of the boat. the angler casts the fly just to the side of the fish as the fly popper is stripped past the fish the crew whip the teaser bait out of the water. The Sail fish instinctively turns onto your fly and well the rest is just sure fun and hell.
