Sailfish

This article is about the fish. For the submarines, see USS Sailfish.

Sailfish Temporal range: Middle Miocene to Present
Indo-Pacific sailfish, Istiophorus platypterus
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Actinopterygii
Order:	Perciformes
Family:	Istiophoridae
Genus:	Istiophorus Lacépède, 1801
Species:	see below
Binomial name
Istiophorus albicans, Istiophorus platypterus Latreille, 1804, Shaw, 1792

Sailfish are two species of fish in the genus Istiophorus, living in warmer sections of all the oceans of the world. They are blue to grey in color and have a characteristic erectile dorsal fin known as a sail, which often stretches the entire length of the back. Another notable characteristic is the elongated bill, resembling that of the swordfish and other marlins. They are therefore described as billfish in sport fishing circles, and in some places and at some times nicknamed the boohoo or boo hoo fish, for its frustrating habit of stealing [[Kingfish} bait from the line.

Both species of sailfish grow quickly, reaching 1.2-1.5 m (4-5 ft) in length in a single year, and feed on the surface or at mid-depths on smaller pelagic forage fish and squid. Individuals have been clocked at speeds of up to 110 km/h (70 mph), which is the highest speed reliably reported in a fish. Generally, sailfish do not grow to more than 3 m (10 ft) in length and rarely weigh over 90 kg (200 lb).

The sail is normally kept folded down and to the side when swimming, but it may be raised when the sailfish feels threatened or excited, making the fish appear much larger than it actually is. This tactic has also been observed during feeding, when a group of sailfish use their sails to "herd" a school of fish or squid.

Sailfish are highly prized game fish and are known for their incredible jumps. The sailfish can also rapidly turn its body light blue with stripes when excited, confusing its prey and making capture easier, while signalling its intentions to fellow sailfish.

Species

• Atlantic sailfish (Istiophorus albicans).
• Indo-Pacific sailfish (Istiophorus platypterus).

Gallery

• 
  Sailfish caught off Quepos, Costa Rica
• 
  Sailfish caught off Quepos, Costa Rica
• 
  Sailfish caught off Quepos, Costa Rica
• Sailfish caught off Quepos, Costa Rica
  Sailfish caught off Quepos, Costa Rica

References

• Froese, Rainer and Pauly, Daniel, eds. (2008). Species of Istiophorus in FishBase. March 2008 version.

External links

• Sailfish Pictures
• Images from National Geographic
• Pacific Sailfish information and pictures from Pacific Fins - Guatemala
• Costa Rica Sailfish Fishing