Sailfish COMMON NAME: Sailfish SCIENTIFIC NAME: Istiophorus TYPE: Fish DIET: Carnivore GROUP NAME: School AVERAGE LIFE SPAN IN THE WILD: 4 years SIZE: 5.7 to 11 feet WEIGHT: 120 to 220 pounds SIZE RELATIVE TO A 6-FT MAN: ABOUT THE SAILFISH The two main subspecies of sailfish, Atlantic and Indo-Pacific, range throughout the warm and temperate parts of the world’s oceans. Unique Traits They are blue to gray in color with white underbellies. They get their name from their spectacular dorsal fin that stretches nearly the length of their body and is much higher than their bodies are thick. Feeding They are members of the billfish family, and as such, have an upper jaw that juts out well beyond their lower jaw and forms a distinctive spear. They are found near the ocean surface usually far from land feeding on schools of smaller fish like sardines and anchovies, which they often shepherd with their sails, making them easy prey. They also feast on squid and octopus. Game Fishing Their meat is fairly tough and not widely eaten, but they are prized as game fish. These powerful, streamlined beasts can grow to more than 10 feet and weigh up to 220 pounds. When hooked, they will fight vigorously, leaping and diving repeatedly, and sometimes taking hours to land. Population Sailfish are fairly abundant throughout their range, and their population is considered stable. They are under no special status or protections.
Sailfish
COMMON NAME: Sailfish
SCIENTIFIC NAME: Istiophorus
TYPE: Fish
DIET: Carnivore
GROUP NAME: School
AVERAGE LIFE SPAN IN THE WILD: 4 years
SIZE: 5.7 to 11 feet
WEIGHT: 120 to 220 pounds
SIZE RELATIVE TO A 6-FT MAN:
ABOUT THE SAILFISH
The two main subspecies of sailfish, Atlantic and Indo-Pacific, range throughout the warm and temperate parts of the world’s oceans.
Unique Traits
They are blue to gray in color with white underbellies. They get their name from their spectacular dorsal fin that stretches nearly the length of their body and is much higher than their bodies are thick.
Feeding
They are members of the billfish family, and as such, have an upper jaw that juts out well beyond their lower jaw and forms a distinctive spear. They are found near the ocean surface usually far from land feeding on schools of smaller fish like sardines and anchovies, which they often shepherd with their sails, making them easy prey. They also feast on squid and octopus.
Game Fishing
Their meat is fairly tough and not widely eaten, but they are prized as game fish. These powerful, streamlined beasts can grow to more than 10 feet and weigh up to 220 pounds. When hooked, they will fight vigorously, leaping and diving repeatedly, and sometimes taking hours to land.
Population
Sailfish are fairly abundant throughout their range, and their population is considered stable. They are under no special status or protections.
