sailfish

Even though they are the smallest members of the Billfish family, the Sailfish is among the most popular to anglers for a number of reasons. Despite being the longest in length, in comparison to other Billfishes, it averages only 80 to 100 pounds, making it attainable to land by just about any angler.

 

Sailfish are unmistakable from other Billfish, and are easily distinguishable from the others, with its huge sail-like dorsal fins, which is a fluorescent-like midnight-blue, with many black dots strewn about it. The fin's membrane itself is very thin and soft, almost velvety to the touch. The back of the fish is dark blue and its sides are silver and have turquoise to blue vertical stripes, which become neon-like, just as those of a Striped Marlin, when the fish gets excited. Its belly is white.

 

Because of its relatively small size, Sailfish are generally fought with standup gear, using lighter tackle, including spinning and fly fishing outfits. They tire fairly quickly due to their spectacular and energetic aerial acrobatics, which are the wildest of the Billfishes. Sailfish are also the most inshore of the Billfishes and one doesn’t usually need to venture far from land to find them, when in season. In fact, they can frequently be seen frolicking about, from shore. One time I was surf/shore fishing somewhere up the Pacific-side of Los Cabos and was casting topwater lures, when I saw a Roosterfish crashing in on some bait 100 yards down the beach, to my left. I leaned in to a cast and fired my lure towards it. Just as the lure hit the water I turned and saw a small Sailfish, perhaps five feet in length and about 20 pounds or so, itself chasing a mullet to my immediate right. It was all lit up and was intent on striking whatever it could find. I'm sure it would have struck at my lure, however, by the time I reeled my line in the fish was gone.

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Sailfish can be caught in a number of ways, utilizing live or dead bait, lures and even flies. A common practice is to simply troll Tuna feathers and 6 to 10 inch plastic-skirted lures. If a finning fish is spotted on the surface one would cast a live bait towards it. If a fish comes up on the lures themselves without striking, the angler can drop back a live bait. Along the Pacific coastline of Mexico, from Mazatlan down to Acapulco and beyond, as well as Atlantic coast Florida fishermen, the preferred method is to troll dead Mullet, with or without a rubber skirt attached to it, or a combination of two dead Mullet way back, with two or three trolling lures closer to the boat.

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Sailfish are the fastest swimming fish in the oceans and can attain speeds in excess of 70 mph or more. They are the worst eating of any Billfish and all should be released. According to the IGFA, the Sailfish is among the heartiest of fishes and have a high rate of survival when released. 

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For more info on the Sailfish and other fish species, order my book "Fishing ... Mexican Style".