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Sailfish Fishing Charters
Deep Sea Fishing in Key Biscayne
Full Day Hardcore Offshore Trip
Inshore, Snorkeling, Sunset Cruise in Playa Flamingo
Flamingo Beach Guancaste Costa Rica
Key West Sportfishing Adventure
6 Hr Deep Sea
Deep Sea, Nearshore Fishing in Riviera Beach
Riviera Beach Fishing
Deep Sea, Nearshore Fishing in Cabo San Lucas
Golden Gate Banks - 43’ Riviera
Everything to Know About Booking a sailfish fishing charter
What are the best sailfish fishing charters?
The best sailfish fishing charters are:
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.
Recent Reviews
Cities
- Atlantic Beach, FL
- Atlantic Beach, NC
- Beaufort, NC
- Big Pine Key, FL
- Boca Raton, FL
- Boynton Beach, FL
- Cabo San Lucas, Mexico
- Caguas, Puerto Rico
- Cancún, Mexico
- Cape Canaveral, FL
- Carolina, Puerto Rico
- Carolina Beach, NC
- Charleston, SC
- Clearwater, FL
- Coral Gables, FL
- Corral del Risco, Mexico
- Cudjoe Key, FL
- Dania Beach, FL
- Destin, FL
- Duck Key, FL
- Edisto Island, SC
- El Combate, Puerto Rico
- Fernandina Beach, FL
- Fort Lauderdale, FL
- Fort Pierce, FL
- Fort Walton Beach, FL
- Galveston, TX
- Gulf Breeze, FL
- Gulfport, FL
- Hatteras, NC
- Hillsboro Beach, FL
- Hilton Head Island, SC
- Hitchcock, TX
- Hollywood, FL
- Honolulu, HI
- Islamorada, FL
- Iztapa, Guatemala
- Jacksonville, FL
- Jacksonville Beach, FL
- Jaco, Costa Rica
- Jensen Beach, FL
- Johns Island, SC
- Jupiter, FL
- Kailua-Kona, HI
- Key Biscayne, FL
- Key Largo, FL
- Key West, FL
- La Cruz de Huanacaxtle, Mexico
- La Paz, Mexico
- Lake Worth Beach, FL
- Lantana, FL
- Layton, FL
- Little River, SC
- Little Torch Key, FL
- Los Pargos, Costa Rica
- Malena, Panama
- Manteo, NC
- Marathon, FL
- Mazatlán, Mexico
- McQueen's Settlement, The Bahamas
- Miami, FL
- Miami Beach, FL
- Montauk, NY
- Moorea-Maiao, French Polynesia
- Morehead City, NC
- Mount Pleasant, SC
- Nassau, The Bahamas
- Naval Air Station Key West, FL
- New Smyrna Beach, FL
- Norfolk, VA
- North Miami, FL
- Ocean City, MD
- Orange Beach, AL
- Palmas del Mar, Puerto Rico
- Panama City, FL
- Panama City Beach, FL
- Pensacola, FL
- Pixvae, Panama
- Playa Flamingo, Costa Rica
- Playa Herradura, Costa Rica
- Pompano Beach, FL
- Port Aransas, TX
- Port Blair, India
- Port Canaveral, FL
- Port Mansfield, TX
- Port Orange, FL
- Puerto Escondido, Oax., Mexico
- Puerto Jiménez, Costa Rica
- Puerto Morelos, Mexico
- Puerto Quetzal, Guatemala
- Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
- Punta Cana, Dominican Republic
- Punta Mita, Mexico
- Quepos, Costa Rica
- Rincon, Puerto Rico
- Riviera Beach, FL
- San Carlos Nuevo Guaymas, Mexico
- San José del Cabo, Mexico
- San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Santa Catalina, Panama
- Santa Rosa Beach, FL
- Sardinal, Costa Rica
- South Padre Island, TX
- St. Augustine, FL
- St. Petersburg, FL
- Stock Island, FL
- Stuart, FL
- Tavernier, FL
- Tierra Verde, FL
- Tulum, Mexico
- Venice, LA
- Virginia Beach, VA
- Wanchese, NC
- Wandoor, India
- West Palm Beach, FL
- Wilmington, NC
- Wrightsville Beach, NC
Other Fishing Species
- African Pompano
- Albacore Tuna
- Almaco Jack
- Amberjack
- Atlantic Mackerel
- Barracuda
- Bigeye Tuna
- Black Drum
- Black Grouper
- Black Marlin
- Black Seabass
- Blackbelly Rosefish
- Blackfin Tuna
- Blacktip Shark
- Blue Marlin
- Blue Shark
- Bluefin Tuna
- Bluefish
- Bonefish
- Bonito
- Bonnethead Shark
- Broomtail Grouper
- Bull Shark
- Calico Bass
- Cero Mackerel
- Cobia
- Cubera Snapper
- Dogtooth Tuna
- Dusky Shark
- False Albacore
- Florida Pompano
- Flounder
- Gag Grouper
- Giant Trevally
- Goliath Grouper
- Great White Shark
- Grunt
- Hammerhead Shark
- Hogfish
- Horse-eye Jack
- Jack Crevalle
- Kingfish
- Ladyfish
- Lane Snapper
- Largemouth Bass
- Lemon Shark
- Lionfish
- Lobster
- Mahi Mahi
- Mako Shark
- Mangrove Snapper
- Milkfish
- Mullet Snapper
- Mutton Snapper
- Needlefish
- Nurse Shark
- Permit
- Pink Snapper
- Queen Snapper
- Rainbow Runner
- Ray
- Red Grouper
- Red Snapper
- Redfish
- Roosterfish
- Sandbar Shark
- Scamp Grouper
- School Shark
- Scup
- Sheepshead
- Skipjack Tuna
- Snook
- Snowy Grouper
- Spadefish
- Spanish Mackerel
- Spearfish
- Speckled Trout
- Spinner Shark
- Stingray
- Strawberry Grouper
- Striped Marlin
- Swordfish
- Tarpon
- Thresher Shark
- Tiger Shark
- Tilefish
- Triggerfish
- Tripletail
- Vermillion Snapper
- Wahoo
- Warsaw Grouper
- White Marlin
- Whiting
- Yellowfin Tuna
- Yellowtail Amberjack
- Yellowtail Snapper
Tour Species
Featured Cities
- Fishing Charters Near Me
- Austin Fishing Guides
- Biloxi Fishing Charters
- Bradenton Fishing Charters
- Cabo San Lucas Fishing Charters
- Cancun Fishing Charters
- Cape Coral Fishing Charters
- Charleston Fishing Charters
- Clearwater Fishing Charters
- Corpus Christi Fishing Charters
- Crystal River Fishing Charters
- Dauphin Island Fishing Charters
- Daytona Beach Fishing Charters
- Destin Fishing Charters
- Fort Lauderdale Fishing Charters
- Fort Myers Fishing Charters
- Fort Walton Beach Fishing Charters
- Galveston Fishing Charters
- Gulf Shores Fishing Charters
- Hatteras Fishing Charters
- Hilton Head Fishing Charters
- Islamorada Fishing Charters
- Jacksonville Fishing Charters
- Jupiter Fishing Charters
- Key Largo Fishing Charters
- Key West Fishing Charters
- Kona Fishing Charters
- Lakeside Marblehead Fishing Charters
- Marathon Fishing Charters
- Marco Island Fishing Charters
- Miami Fishing Charters
- Montauk Fishing Charters
- Morehead City Fishing Charters
- Naples Fishing Charters
- New Orleans Fishing Charters
- New Smyrna Beach Fishing Charters
- Ocean City Fishing Charters
- Orange Beach Fishing Charters
- Panama City Beach Fishing Charters
- Pensacola Fishing Charters
- Pompano Beach Fishing Charters
- Port Aransas Fishing Charters
- Port Orange Fishing Charters
- Rockport Fishing Charters
- San Diego Fishing Charters
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- Sarasota Fishing Charters
- South Padre Island Fishing Charters
- St. Augustine Fishing Charters
- St. Petersburg Fishing Charters
- Tampa Fishing Charters
- Tarpon Springs Fishing Charters
- Venice Fishing Charters
- Virginia Beach Fishing Charters
- West Palm Beach Fishing Charters
- Wilmington Fishing Charters
- Wrightsville Beach Fishing Charters
What's biting?
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