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Featured Fishing Trips
Top Types of Fishing
Half Day and Full Day Trips
Top Locations for Sailfish Fishing
Everything to Know About Booking a sailfish fishing charter
What are the best sailfish fishing charters?
Our Damn Good Guides currently offer 263 sailfish trips, and the most popular trips are South Padre Island Deep Sea Fishing guided by Emilio, Open Ocean Big Game - 42' Sea Ray guided by Bryan, and Tulum Trophy Hunt guided by Carlos.
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What types of sailfish fishing charters are common?
Deep Sea fishing is the most popular for sailfish as well as nearshore fishing, inshore fishing, and flats fishing.
The most common fishing techniques are trolling, heavy tackle fishing, and bottom fishing but jigging and light tackle fishing are popular as well.
How much do sailfish fishing charters cost?
for sailfish prices can range anywhere from $330 to $3,000 and up, but the average price for a half day for sailfish is $1,293. The average price for a full day for sailfish is $2,488.
When is the best month to go sailfish fishing?
The most popular season for sailfish fishing is spring, and most anglers book their trips 69 days in advance.
Do I need a fishing license for sailfish and what are the bag limits for sailfish?
See here for more information on sailfish fishing licenses, sailfish bag limits, and fishing season regulations for sailfish. When in doubt, your fishing guide will always know the right sailfish rules and regulations.
What is a Sailfish?
The sailfish (Istiophorus platypterus) is most recognizable for it’s large dorsal fin, or sail, that stretches along their entire back. Known as the cheetah of the ocean, they are some of the fastest marine creatures alive, swimming up to 70 miles per hour, making them highly prized by anglers despite being one of the smaller species of billfish.
Other distinguishing characteristics of sailfish are their blue to gray coloring, and elongated bill. These colors will change into rust color and even black while hunting. There are two types of sailfish, the Pacific Sailfish, and the Atlantic Sailfish, who reside in the Pacific and Atlantic oceans respectively.
How big do Sailfish get?
Sailfish grow quickly, being born at 0.125 inches long, and getting up to four to five feet within a single year. At full maturity, they can grow upwards of 10 feet long and 200 pounds.
That being said, there tends to be a size difference between the Atlantic and Pacific sailfishes. Pacific sailfish can get up to up to a foot longer than the biggest Atlantic sailfish. They can also be much heavier, by up to 70 pounds.
What's the biggest Sailfish ever caught?
In 1947, Carl Stewart caught the largest sailfish ever recorded. It was a Pacific sailfish landed out of the waters of Santa Cruz Island in Ecuador. This giant weighed in over 220 pounds, and was over 11 feet long.
Where is the best place to catch Sailfish?
Sailfish are spread across tropical and subtropical waters, staying in preferred water temperatures of 70 to 83 degrees. They stay close to the surface, usually alone or in small groups, sometimes schooling when hunting.
In the Atlantic, one of the best places to target sailfish is Florida. There are hotspots along the entire Floridian coast, including Miami, the Keys, the Panhandle, and Destin. Outside of the United States, some of the top areas are Bermuda, Puerto Rico, and Hawaii.
When in the Pacific, Guatemala and Costa Rica are the go-to places. For the best of both Pacific and Atlantic oceans, head to Mexico, where you can go to either coast for access.
When should I catch Sailfish?
Sailfish are typically good to fish year-round, it just depends on where they are in their migration to make sure you’re headed to the right area. For example Eastern Atlantic Sailfish have a seasonal migration south towards warmer waters, so the best time to target them is November through February. Peak season worldwide though tends to be from May to September, especially in July, since summer is the sailfish’s spawning season.
How do you catch Sailfish?
The most common way to hook a sailfish is by fast trolling, using artificial or natural bait. Artificials typically used are plastic lures, feathers, or spoons. Natural bait is preferred, however, and can be live or dead and cut into strips, with options like mullet, ballyhoo, or mackerel. Other methods like jigs, poppers, kite fishing, and fly fishing can also be used.
The “dropback” technique is highly recommended for sailfish. To do so, you should feed line to the sailfish once it is spotted approaching the bait. Continue to free spool until you’re sure that the bait has been taken, then set the drag, wait until there is no more slack, set the hook and get ready to fight. Sailfish are know for their acrobatic leaps, shaking their head, and tail-walking, which is where they skip across the water using their tails.
Are Sailfish good to eat? What are the best Sailfish recipes?
Much like other billfish, sailfish are most often caught and released. They are edible, however they are not considered the most palatable since the meat tends to be very tough, and they also have a high mercury content.
More Fishing Trips
Other Species to Target
- African Pompano
- Albacore Tuna
- Alligator
- Alligator Gar
- Almaco Jack
- Amberjack
- Arctic Char
- Atlantic Mackerel
- Atlantic Salmon
- Barracuda
- Bigeye Tuna
- Black Drum
- Black Duck
- Black Grouper
- Black Marlin
- Black Seabass
- Black-Bellied Whistling Duck
- Blackbelly Rosefish
- Blackfin Tuna
- Blacktip Shark
- Blue Catfish
- Blue Marlin
- Blue Shark
- Blue-Winged Teal
- Bluebill
- Bluefin Tuna
- Bluefish
- Bluegill
- Bonefish
- Bonito
- Bonnethead Shark
- Bowfin
- Bream
- Brook Trout
- Broomtail Grouper
- Brown Trout
- Bufflehead
- Bull Shark
- Bull Trout
- Bullhead Catfish
- Burbot
- Calico Bass
- California Corbina
- California Sheephead
- Canada Goose
- Canvasback
- Carp
- Cero Mackerel
- Channel Catfish
- Chinook Salmon
- Chum Salmon
- Cichlid
- Cinnamon Teal
- Clown Knifefish
- Cobia
- Cod
- Coho Salmon
- Common Goldeneye
- Common Merganser
- Crab
- Crappie
- Cubera Snapper
- Cutthroat Trout
- Dolly Varden
- Dove
- False Albacore
- Flathead Catfish
- Florida Pompano
- Flounder
- Fluke
- Freshwater Drum
- Gadwall
- Gag Grouper
- Garfish
- Giant Trevally
- Golden Dorado
- Golden Trout
- Goliath Grouper
- Great White Shark
- Green-Winged Teal
- Grunt
- Guadalupe Bass
- Haddock
- Halibut
- Hammerhead Shark
- Hardhead Catfish
- Hog
- Hogfish
- Hooded Merganser
- Horse-eye Jack
- Hybrid Striped Bass
- Iguana
- Jack Crevalle
- Kingfish
- Ladyfish
- Lake Trout
- Lane Snapper
- Largemouth Bass
- Lemon Shark
- Leopard Shark
- Lingcod
- Lionfish
- Lobster
- Mahi Mahi
- Mako Shark
- Mallard
- Mangrove Snapper
- Mexican Duck
- Mottled Duck
- Mullet Snapper
- Muskie
- Mutton Snapper
- Needlefish
- Northern Pike
- Northern Pintail
- Northern Shoveler
- Nurse Shark
- Peacock Bass
- Perch
- Permit
- Pink Salmon
- Pink Snapper
- Pollock
- Porbeagle Shark
- Queen Snapper
- Rainbow Runner
- Rainbow Trout
- Ray
- Red Grouper
- Red Snapper
- Red-Breasted Merganser
- Redfish
- Redhead
- Ring-Necked Duck
- Rio Grande Cutthroat Trout
- Rockfish
- Roosterfish
- Sauger
- Scallop
- Scamp Grouper
- Sculpin
- Scup
- Shad
- Sheepshead
- Shrimp
- Skate
- Skipjack Tuna
- Smallmouth Bass
- Smallmouth Buffalo
- Snook
- Snow Goose
- Snowy Grouper
- Sockeye Salmon
- Spadefish
- Spanish Mackerel
- Spearfish
- Specklebelly Goose
- Speckled Trout
- Spotted Bass
- Steelhead
- Stingray
- Strawberry Grouper
- Striped Bass
- Striped Marlin
- Sturgeon
- Sunfish
- Swordfish
- Tarpon
- Tautog
- Thresher Shark
- Tiger Shark
- Tigerfish
- Tilapia
- Tilefish
- Triggerfish
- Tripletail
- Vermillion Snapper
- Wahoo
- Walleye
- Warsaw Grouper
- Weakfish
- White Bass
- White Marlin
- White Seabass
- Whiting
- Wigeon
- Wood Duck
- Yellowfin Tuna
- Yellowtail Amberjack
- Yellowtail Snapper
Other Techniques to Try
- Artificial Lure Fishing
- Blind Hunting
- Bottom Fishing
- Bowfishing
- Calling
- Cut Bait Fishing
- Decoy Hunting
- Deep Dropping
- Drift Fishing
- Fly Fishing
- Gigging
- Heavy Tackle Fishing
- Hunting With Dogs
- Ice Fishing
- Jigging
- Kayak Fishing
- Kite Fishing
- Light Tackle Fishing
- Live Bait Fishing
- Management Hunting
- Rifle Hunting
- Scalloping
- Shotgun Hunting
- Sight Casting
- Spearfishing
- Surf Fishing
- Topwater Fishing
- Trolling
- Wading
Other Types of Fishing
States
Cities
- Atlantic Beach, North Carolina
- Beaufort, North Carolina
- Boothville-Venice, Louisiana
- Cabo San Lucas, Mexico
- Caguas, Puerto Rico
- Cancún, Mexico
- Carolina Beach, North Carolina
- Charleston, South Carolina
- Dania Beach, Florida
- Destin, Florida
- Dorado, Puerto Rico
- Duck Key, Florida
- Fort Lauderdale, Florida
- Fort Pierce, Florida
- Fort Walton Beach, Florida
- Freeport, Texas
- Galveston, Texas
- Gulf Shores, Alabama
- Gulfport, Florida
- Hatteras, North Carolina
- Hillsboro Beach, Florida
- Hilton Head Island, South Carolina
- Hitchcock, Texas
- Hollywood, Florida
- Homestead, Florida
- Islamorada, Florida
- Iztapa, Guatemala
- Jacksonville, Florida
- Jaco, Costa Rica
- Kailua-Kona, Hawaii
- Key Biscayne, Florida
- Key Largo, Florida
- Key West, Florida
- Lantana, Florida
- Layton, Florida
- Manteo, North Carolina
- Marathon, Florida
- Matagorda, Texas
- Miami, Florida
- Miami Beach, Florida
- Montauk, New York
- Mount Pleasant, South Carolina
- New Smyrna Beach, Florida
- Orange Beach, Alabama
- Panama City Beach, Florida
- Pensacola, Florida
- Playa Flamingo, Costa Rica
- Playa Ocotal, Costa Rica
- Pompano Beach, Florida
- Ponce Inlet, Florida
- Port Aransas, Texas
- Port Isabel, Texas
- Port Orange, Florida
- Puerto Quetzal, Guatemala
- Punta Cana, Dominican Republic
- Punta Mita, Mexico
- Quepos, Costa Rica
- Riviera Beach, Florida
- San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Sealevel, North Carolina
- Sneads Ferry, North Carolina
- South Padre Island, Texas
- Spanish Wells, The Bahamas
- St. Augustine, Florida
- Stock Island, Florida
- Stuart, Florida
- Tavernier, Florida
- Tierra Verde, Florida
- Tulum, Mexico
- Virginia Beach, Virginia
- Wanchese, North Carolina
- West Palm Beach, Florida
- Wilmington, North Carolina
- Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina
Countries
Other Featured Cities
- Aransas Pass, TX
- Austin, TX
- Biloxi, MS
- Cabo San Lucas, Mexico
- Cancun, MX
- Cape Coral, FL
- Charleston, SC
- Clearwater, FL
- Corpus Christi, TX
- Crystal River, FL
- Dauphin Island, AL
- Daytona Beach, FL
- Delray Beach, FL
- Destin, FL
- Fort Lauderdale, FL
- Fort Myers. FL
- Fort Walton Beach, FL
- Freeport, TX
- Galveston, TX
- Gulf Shores, AL
- Hilton Head Island, SC
- Islamorada, FL
- Jacksonville, FL
- Jupiter, FL
- Key Largo, FL
- Key West, FL
- Kona, HI
- Marathon, FL
- Marco Island, FL
- Miami, FL
- Naples, FL
- New Orleans, LA
- Orange Beach, AL
- Panama City Beach, FL
- Pensacola, FL
- Port Aransas, TX
- Port O'Connor, TX
- Rockport, TX
- San Diego, CA
- San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Sarasota, FL
- South Padre Island, TX
- St. Augustine, FL
- St. Petersburg, FL
- Tampa, FL
- Tarpon Springs, FL
- Tulum, Mexico
- Venice, LA
- Virginia Beach, VA
- Wilmington, NC