Description: color dark blue
on top, brown-blue laterally, silvery white underbelly; upper jaw
elongated in form of spear; first dorsal greatly enlarged in the form of a
sail, with many black spots, its front squared off, highest at its
midpoint; pelvic fins very narrow, reaching almost to the anus; body
covered with embedded scales, blunt at end; lateral line curved above
pectoral, then straight to base of tail.
Similar Fish: white
marlin, Tetrapterus albidus; young blue marlin, Makaira
nigricans (spectacular sail-like dorsal of sailfish is most notable
difference).
Where found: OFFSHORE
species, in south Florida associated with waters near the Gulf Stream; off
the Panhandle near the 100 foot fathom line.
Size: common to 7 feet.
*Florida Record: 116 lbs.
Remarks: rapid growing
species, reaching 4 to 5 feet in a single year; swims at speeds up to 50
knots; feeds on the surface or at mid-depths on smaller pelagic fishes and
squid.
* The Florida records
quoted are from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's
printed publication, Fishing
Lines and are not necessarily the most current ones. The records are
provided as only as a benchmark.
