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Sailfish

   Sailfish

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Sailfish

Anyone who enjoys sports fishing knows about Sailfish. It is one of the most elusive fishes out there. Hence, it makes for a great catch. Although sailfish fishing might be challenging, it is also the most rewarding. If you want to fish for Sailfish, you need to be prepared for its lightning speed, large size, and spirited fight. Before you book a boat with Dreamboats Costa Rica, you must gather as much information as possible about the fish.

A sailfish is a type of billfish that is similar to a swordfish and blue marlin. It is one of the oldest fish that has been swimming in the ocean since 60 million years ago. What makes them stand out is that Sailfish are highly intelligent and make for amazing predators. Unlike the blue marlin that prefers solitude, the Sailfish works with a team to strike schools of prey fish for easier feeding. It can live up to 15 years ago. But, its average lifespan is only 4 to 5 years when in the wild. Starting out as tiny larvae, Sailfish can grow up to 11 feet and weigh around 220 pounds. Similar to other billfish species, male Sailfish are not as large as female Sailfish. Sailfish can swim at a speed of 70 miles an hour. It is the fastest fish in the ocean.

It is the most beautiful fish out there. It displays a variety of colors, from grays to subdued browns to silver and vibrant purples. The Sailfish has an elongated upper jaw that forms a spear and allows it to attack larger prey. It also has pointed bills and huge dorsal fins. Their sail-like fins help give them the name. The Sailfish changes its body colors to express excitement, stress, and other emotions. 

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Best Places to Fish for Sailfish

The Sailfish is normally found in tropical and warm-temperate waters. The open ocean is its natural habitat. As it is a pelagic creature, it is constantly on the move. Since they are outstanding divers, they can plunge deep into the ocean all the way to 1,150 feet just to find food. However, it prefers waters that range from 70 to 83 degrees Fahrenheit. It can also be found near the shore. It is vital to understand that these fish migrate to different waters throughout the year. Hence, they can be found in different parts of the world, as mentioned below.

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1. Los Sueños, Costa Rica

Los Sueños, Costa Rica is a great place to fish for Sailfish. The waters near Costa Rica provide the perfect temperature for these fish. Sports fishers can head to the Pacific Coast of Central America to hunt for the fish. In fact, many people from across the globe visit the city in hopes of catching the mighty fish. The fish does not give up as easily, and you need a proper technique to catch it. Dreamboats Costa Rica offers the best experience to sports fishers who are looking for a company that goes out of its way for its clients.

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2. Florida, USA

Another great place to fish for Sailfish is Florida, USA. This state does not disappoint when it comes to finding Sailfish. It is a popular destination for Sailfish. Therefore, it makes sense to head to the East for a chance to hook this marvelous creature.

3. Thailand

If you are planning to head to Asia, Thailand is an interesting destination to hunt for Sailfish. You will find the Sailfish in Thailand to be easier to catch. When it gets colder in other parts of the world, sailfish head to Asia to find a more temperate area to live in.

 

Sailfish Favorite Food

Sailfish start eating tiny zooplankton from a very young age. As their size increases, so do the size of their prey. Once they become adults, Sailfish can be found eating squid, crustaceans, and large bony fishes. If the Sailfish is in the Atlantic, it would be more likely to eat halfbeaks, jacks, needlefish, mackerel, and tuna. On the other hand, it eats ribbonfish, triggerfish, sardines, anchovies, and jacks in the Pacific.

Best Ways to Fish for Sailfish.

Fishing for Sailfish is not easy. It is known for being difficult to fish. The reason why it is very difficult to catch is that it is extremely powerful and quick. It can be tough to hook its large hard bills, especially if you are not well-prepared. Even if you manage to hook a sailfish, it puts up a fight. However, it does not mean that it is impossible to catch a sailfish. Los Sueños, Costa Rica is a great location to fish for sail fish. Here are some of your options for catching this fish. 

1. Sailfish Baits

When it comes to catching Sailfish, there are many baits that you can use. The small Ballyhoo rig is the most popular bait for trolling. It is better to have a brined, rigged, and a full cooler. The Panama strip is also a great option as it consists of false albacore. A variety of live baits like large sardines, speedos, pilchards, google eyes, cigar minnows, and blue runners make it possible for you to catch the Sailfish. You can slow troll these baits by li-hooking. It is also possible to use dead baits as long as the lips are closed.

2. Sailfish Lures

Plastic lures can also be used for trolling. It allows you to save baits. The reason why lures are popular is that they allow for faster trolling in comparison to living bait. You will find lures to be ideal for covering a large area. Some popular color combos that you can use include pink-red-white and purple-red. It is best to have an extensive lure selection. It can include soft plastic baits (i.e., mullet, ballyhoo, and squid) and sea witches. Sailfish lures are highly effective as they allow you to catch more Sailfish.

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More information about sailfish

Sailfish, also known as ocean gar or ocean guard, is a member of the Istiophorus family (marlin, billfish) that lives in the cold waters across the world's oceans. Sailfish are a catch and release sport fish. Sailfish may be found in moderate to tropical seas all around the globe, open ocean (epipelagic) being their ecosystem/habitat. In Costa Rica, thousands of anglers from all over the world come each year to experience the excitement of catching these magnificent, graceful marine creatures and witnessing their spectacular jumps of pure enchantment. The Central Pacific coast in Costa Rica is known as the world's billfish capital, owing to its world-class sailfish bite.
Speed & Size
Sailfish usually do not go faster than 10-15 m/s (meter per second), reaching a speed of up to 68 mph (miles per hour). But they have achieved a peak speed of 7 m/s or 25 km/h (6 mph) during predator or prey encounters but have not exceeded ten m/s or 36 km/h (6 mph). They develop rapidly and reach 3.9-4.9 feet in one year, seldom exceed 9.8 feet in length, and they also weigh more than 200 pounds.
Life Span
In their native environment, Sailfish may live for 13 to 15 years. Whereas, Sailfish caught and released by sport anglers have a life expectancy of 4 to 5 years.
Physical Appearance / Notable Characteristics
Sailfish can be seen in a wide range of hues, from muted browns and greys to bright purples and silver, primarily blue and grey in appearance. Stripes of shimmering blue and silver dots complement their body color. A distinctive dorsal fin is known as a sail that usually extends on the entire length of its back. An expanded bill resembling that of other marlins (or swordfish) is also a notable characteristic, which is why they are known as billfish in sportfishing groups. Sailfish make use of tapping (short-range movement) or slashing (horizontal large-range direction) to hit their target. The tiny teeth on their bills cause scale and tissue removal damage to their target fish, and they are typically known to attack one at a time.
A Good Catch
In Costa Rica, lures and dead bait on circle hooks and live bait near reefs and reed lines are often used to catch Sailfish. Sailfish are not as big or substantial as marlin but are known to provide a constant and easy-to-find bite. Sailfish's population has remained stable and is found abundantly in Costa Rica. They typically live near the open ocean's surface, but can dive up to 1,150 feet or 350 m to find food. The house school food that includes sardines, anchovies, octopus and squid. Sailfish consume tiny pelagic forage fish and squid near the surface or in the intermediate depths and wide variety of other fish that includes tuna flying fish, mackerels, and other species.
When swimming, Sailfish's sail is usually folded down and only raised when the Sailfish attacks its prey. The elevated sail lowers sideways movements of the head, making their bill less visible to target or prey fish: a technique enabling Sailfish to approach or even enter fish schools without being detected by the target while striking them. A sailfish's bill movement typically shifts to the left or right while hunting its prey, and this bill movement preference differs from one Sailfish to another. The shape of their dorsal fin defines this individual characteristic or the movement.

Peak Season for Sailfish
Sportfishing has been popular in Costa Rica for over three decades. Few locations globally, including Costa Rica, can match the incredible billfish (Sailfish) quantities the country reports yearly. From all over the world people come to Costa Rica for a phenomenal and unforgettable sailfish quest and never get disappointed. The Triple Crown Signature Series (in Los Suenos Marina), and the Offshore World Championship (in Pez Vela) are two of the world's most renowned international billfish events.
From January through April, the Central Pacific is the best place to catch Sailfish in Costa Rica. Anglers fishing off of Los Suenos Marina or Pez Vela Marina might sight more than 50 sailfish, raise more than 30, and release around 20 sailfish on any single day at this time. The weather is ideal, the waters are flat, and the Sailfish can be seen everywhere throughout these months, which correspond nicely with the winter season in North America and the summer season in Costa Rica. From mid-November to mid-March, anglers see many sailfish releases in the South Pacific while fishing offshore (including Drake Bay, Puerto Jimenez, Golfito) while traveling towards the south (outside Golfo Dulce) or moving towards north along the coast (in the Drake Bay or Furuno Bank region).
Sailfish may be caught on offshore sportfishing excursions throughout the whole Pacific coast, throughout the year in Costa Rica, with the best months being January to June (gold season), and it is not unusual to catch 15-25 sailfish on any given day. During the remainder of the year, though, it is customary to raise 5-10 sailfish each day.

Fun Facts
Xiphias platypterus is the species name assigned to Sailfish. However, Atlantic sailfish (I. Albicans) and Indo-Pacific Sailfish (I. Indicus) (Indo-Pacific sailfish) are believed to be two different sailfish species.
This catch and release marine creatures are fierce fighters. Trophy angler prefers them because of their ferocious battles and massive size. Consider yourself a proficient or skilled fisherman if you catch even one Sailfish. Sailfish has the record for the quickest speed of any marine mammal on the planet. Because their population is deemed stable, they do not have any special status or protection and fall into the least concerned group by conservationists.
Sailfish change their colors instantly, using their iridescent spots and a change controlled by their nervous system, an incredible ability during their hunt. When a sailfish gets thrilled, its body becomes brilliant blue with yellowish stripes. They use it to confound their prey, to improve their quest, as well as to signal their companion sailfish.
Commonly Asked Questions about Sailfish

Can you consume Sailfish?
Sailfish are tasty, but catching one from federal waters requires special permission. The best way to prepare Sailfish is to smoke it, although other options include frying and baking. Sailfish flesh is very inexpensive.
What is the world record Sailfish and the giant Sailfish ever caught?
The world's most giant Sailfish was more than 10 feet in length and weighed 110 pounds. Whereas the largest Sailfish ever caught was 11.2 feet in length and weighed 220.5 pounds.
What is the best place to find Sailfish?
Sailfish are migratory fish, and if their present environment becomes too cold, they migrate to warmer seas. They live in the warm Pacific and Atlantic Oceans when the water temperature stays above 79 degrees Fahrenheit. above 79 degrees Fahrenheit.

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