They also typically measure between 6 and 7 feet in length, with an average weight of around 50 pounds. Combined with it's elegant sleekness and long spear-like bill, sailfish are the stuff a Florida sport fisherman dreams about and prized mounted trophies are made of.Ī strong fighter, sailfish are capable of short bursts of speed upwards of 60 mph. The sides of the sailfish slowly blend down to lighter tones of blue/gray or even silvery white, making sailfish visually stunning. Their unusual and beautiful dorsal sail fin is offset against the dark violet blue of it's body. Two of their most outstanding features include their long, pointed spear-like bill which is part of their upper jaw, and their large, dark steel blue sail fin that often stands erect along it's back. Without a doubt, this is one of the most beautiful and exciting Florida Keys fish to target. You'll typically fish along the reef lines and be in about 120' to 200' of water. When it comes to sailfish fishing Florida winter months are better. However, they're most plentiful in April and May. When fishing Florida Keys sailfish are caught in the Gulf stream off the Atlantic coast all year long. It's also the reason why novices and seasoned pros alike vow to include a saltwater fishing charter for these billfish on their 'bucket list' of must do activities. It's the combination of their speed, beauty, and intense fighting capability that makes them one of the most popular of all saltwater fish to target. Almost everything else pales in comparison. The thrill of fishing for this particular Florida fish is why Hemingway became so addicted to sailfishing. You need to keep an eye on the horizon, and watch for them as they break the water. Sightfishing plays a large role in targeting this popular fighting fish. One of the biggest tricks is knowing where they are traveling, and then being able to spot them.
![sailfish jumping line art sailfish jumping line art](http://getdrawings.com/image/sailfish-drawing-57.jpg)
There is a true art to fishing for sailfish and marlin. Since there's so much similarity in the feeding and ranging habits of these billfish, when offshore fishing Florida Keys waters, you'll find that a day out with any of the Florida Keys fishing charters will produce any one or more of these hard fighting species. Third, they inhabit the same waters and follow the warm water currents of the Gulf stream. Second, they all feed at about the same water depth. They race through a school of intended prey, slashing and stunning them with their long bills, then they return to feed. Sailfish, blue marlin, white marlin, swordfish, and even the rare short billed spearfish can be found when offshore Florida Keys sport fishing.Įxcept for swordfish, these billfish have very similar characteristics.įirst, they hunt for their food the same way. There are a number of different billfish species found in the waters off the Florida Keys.