Atlantic Sailfish

45 to 65 lb (20 to 29 kg). Averages 30-60 pounds, but many under 30 pounds and a few up to 100 pounds are also taken. Potential maximum is less than 150 pounds in the Atlantic Ocean. World record 221 pounds; Florida record 116 pounds.

Family	Abyssocottidae
Description	Deep-water sculpins
Environment	Fresh
Etymology	Greek, abyssos = bottomless + Greek, kottos = a kind of fish; derived from Greek, kotta = head
Genus	7
No. of Species	24
Order	Scorpaeniformes
Class	Actinopterygii
Reproductive Guild	Guarders
Distribution	Primarily Lake Baikal, Siberia. Postcleithra reduced or absent; dorsal fin with 3-10 spines and 10-21 soft rays; anal fin with 8-16 soft rays; pelvic fin with one spine and 2-4 soft rays; vertebrae 30-37. Generally occur below 170 m.

Atlantic Sailfish, Spindlebeak, Pez Vela

The Atlantic Sailfish's preferred habitat is deep blue water over 100 m (330 ft). The species usually migrates to high latitudes in the warm season. They reproduce while in the subtropics; spawning occurs in early summer in deep, oceanic waters. Prey items include a variety of fish, crustaceans, and cephalopods. Like the other Billfishes, the Sailfish is considered an ocean species, but generally can be found closer to land than the rest, seeming to prefer areas where coral reefs and/or freshwater runoffs mingle with ocean water. At times, particularly in Southeast Florida, the Sailfish comes right into the surf and quite a few have been caught over the years from beaches and piers.Unsurpassed in its size range for combined strength and spectacle.

Color of body dark blue to chocolate brown, shading to silvery white underbelly; noticeable spots on dorsal fin; upper jaw elongated in shape of spear; body covered with embedded scales with a single sharp point; tips of first dorsal, pectoral, and first anal fins rounded; lateral line curved above pectoral fin, then going in straight line to base of tail. Atlantic Sailfish are large, elongated fish with a large upper jaw that forms a spear which is round in cross-section. Although generally considered to be a rare and solitary species relative to other similar fish, Atlantic Sailfish occur in small groups consisting of several individuals. First described as a species in 1792, Atlantic sailfishes' scientific name is Istiophorus albicans (Latreille, 1804). The only other sailfishes are the Pacific or Indo-Pacific sailfishes, Istiophorus platypterus (Shaw, 1792)external link; though some scientists disagree on whether the two are in fact different species. Atlantic sailfishes, aka billfishes, ocean gars, ocean guards, and sailfishes, are one of the smaller members of the billfishes or Istiophoridae family, with a maximum size of about 3.15 to 3.40external link m in length and a weight of 100external link kg. Females are generally larger than males. Distinguishing features include a bill-shaped upper jaw which is circular in cross-section and about twice the length of their lower jaw. The first of this fish's two dorsal fins are very long and tall (hence their name "sailfish"), running most of the length of their body, with the 20th ray as the longest A pair of grooves run along the ventral (under) side of their body, into which their pelvic fins can be depressed. Their caudal peduncle (tail fin) has double keels and caudal notches on the upper and lower surfaces. Their lateral lineexternal link is readily visible. Body color varies depending upon the fish's level of excitement, but in general their body is dark blue dorsally (above) and white with brown spots ventrally (below). About 20 bars, each consisting of many light blue dots, are present on each of their sides. Their fins are all blackish blue except at the base of their anal fins, which is white.

Seems to spawn throughout the year in tropical and subtropical waters of the Pacific with peak spawning occurring in the respective local summer seasons. Spawning occurs with males and females swimming in pairs or with two or three males chasing a single female (probably a mating behavior). The ripe ovarian eggs are about 0.85 mm in diameter and have a single oil globule; there are no structures on the vitalize membrane and the egg is transparent. Eggs shed from captured female in the Indian Ocean averaged 1.304 mm in diameter.

Summary of Distribution: Indo-Pacific: tropical and temperate waters approximately 45°- 50°N and 40°-35°S in the western Pacific, 35°N and 35°S in the eastern Pacific; 45°S in western Indian Ocean and 35°S in eastern Indian Ocean. Entered Mediterranean Sea from Red sea via Suez Canal. Highly migratory species, Annex I of the 1982 Convention on the Law of the Sea. Some authors recognize a single worldwide species, Istiophorus platypterus (Shaw & Nodder 1792) but we follow Nakamura 1990 retaining the usage of Istiophorus platypterus for the Indo-Pacific sailfish and Istiophorus albicans for the Atlantic sailfish in recognition of the differences between them.
Note: Distribution range colors indicate degree of suitability of habitat which can be interpreted as probabilities of occurrence (fishbase.org)

	Gill nets Gill-nets are the dominant gear in the Indian Ocean. Gill-nets are used in artisanal and semi-industrial fisheries, contributing to 30-40% of the total catch. The net design is comprised of continuous panels of uniform mesh size, aimed to trap fish behind the gills. The International Sustainable Seafood Foundation (ISSF) notes that rates of sharks and turtle by-catch in Indian Ocean gill-net fisheries are high..
	Kite Fishing (Rig) A Kite Fishing Rig is....
	Kite Fishing (Trolling) Kite Fishing Trolling is when you are....
	River Drift River Drift means to use the....

Trolling Light and Medium sized Big Game Lures with Skirts. They will also attack and eat Larger Lures, and of course live bait at slower trolling speeds.

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