Spearfish (Shortbill)

20 - 60 lbs.

Shortbill Spearfish, Spearfish, Fuuraikajiki (Japanese), Makaire A Rostre Court (French), Aguglia Imperiale (Italian), Speerfisch (German)

The shortbill spearfish is a species of marlin that lives in the tropical and temperate waters of the Indian and Pacific oceans. It is a highly migratory species, and is usually found close to the surface of the water. Oceanic and epipelagic, found above the thermocline (Ref. 9308). Feeds on fishes, cephalopods and crustaceans. Also caught as a by-catch of long lines with hooks intended for tuna.

The shortbill spearfish has a dark black band extends across the top of the fish with a silver-white colour below. The dorsal and ventral fins are almost black and the anal fins are a white colour. The inner surfaces of the tail and the pectoral fins are black and the outer surface is white. These species are lesser-known and small members of the Istiophoridae family of billfish that are also referred to as slender spearfish. They are pelagic, offshore, deep-water fish that appear to be available all year in small numbers but are infrequently encountered by anglers in most parts of their range. They feed near the surface, mainly on small and medium-sized fishes and squids, including dolphin, sauries, flying fish, needlefish and pilot fish. Spearfish can be distinguished from other billfish by a slender, lightweight body, short bill, and a dorsal fin that is higher than in marlin and lower than in the sailfish. The vent is located well in front of the anal fin; in all other billfish, the vent is located close to the anal fin. The bill of the shortbill spearfish is barely longer than its lower jaw. The pectoral fins of the shortbill barely reaches to the curve of the lateral line. The shortbill spearfish has 47 to 50 elements more in the first dorsal fin than any other Atlantic billfish, although it may appear similar to the white marlin. The lateral line is single and arches above the pectoral fins. The dorsal fin is bright blue and has no spots. The vertical bars on the body are never as prominent as in other billfish and may show only slightly or not at all. Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 51-57; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 18 - 23. Dark blue above, blue splattered with brown on the sides, silvery white below; 1st dorsal fin plain dark blue, other fins brown or dark brown; anal fin bases with tinges of silvery white.

Spawning is believed to occur mainly during the winter months, especially in warm offshore currents with surface temperature of about 25°C.

Summary of Distribution: Indian and Pacific: tropical and temperate waters. Although some stray individuals are found in the Atlantic Ocean, this species is believed to have its spawning grounds and principal populations only in the Pacific and Indian Oceans. Highly migratory species,
Note: Distribution range colors indicate degree of suitability of habitat which can be interpreted as probabilities of occurrence (fishbase.org)

Trolling A trolling boat has multiple outriggers, poles and lines attached that use lures dragged across the ocean surface at speeds of 4 – 10 knots. Large beefy hooks are used with special durable lures allowing the fisherman to easily unhook the gamefish that has been caught and quickly get their lines back into the water. The larger the lures, the larger the potential fish, the larger the hooks. A tuna boat will usually make slow wide circles when trolling. A billfish boat will usually work ledges, fathom lines, zig zag area coordinates or make trolling circles if bait or a porpoise school is located and/or if they are fishing a FAD..

	Pelagic Longline This fishery uses a longline to catch a variety of pelagic fish on the high seas such as tuna and swordfish. A deep-set longline is used to primarily target tuna and a shallow-set longline is used to target swordfish or mixed species including bigeye, Albacore and yellowfin tuna. Baited hooks are attached to a line that floats in the ocean using buoys and flagpoles.

Trolling Light and Medium sized Big Game Lures with Skirts. They will also attack larger lures and of course live baits at slower speeds.

Available Sizes: 50 in. - 81 in. Details: Fired-Enamel Glass Eye