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Sailfish Migration Patterns

The Thrill of Sailfishing

This is the time of year when most captains, mates and owners in South Florida start thinking about the winter sailfish migration season. One of the most exciting things about sailfishing is that it is common to get hooked up on multiple fish. Few thrills in sportfishing can match that of all the rods bending at once, with anglers and mates stumbling over each other trying to clear the spread.

Habitat and Range of the Atlantic Sailfish

Atlantic sailfish roam throughout the tropical and temperate waters of the western Atlantic, from the Gulf of Maine in the north to Brazil in the south, with the Caribbean and the Gulf of Mexico in between. They migrate throughout this range. Compared with marlin and swordfish, sailfish are a near-shore species. Sailfish are believed to live up to 10 years and reach average weights of 110 pounds in the Pacific and 55 pounds in the Atlantic.

Reproduction and Spawning

Atlantic sailfish spawn throughout the year in the open tropical and subtropical waters of oceans and seas. The majority of spawning occurs during the summer wherever they happen to be. During spawning, males and females pair off, though sometimes several males will engage a single female. Females release as many as 5 million eggs, which are fertilized in open water by the male. Each clear egg is a single droplet of oil surrounded by a pale yellow membrane. The tiny eggs then float until hatching about 36 hours later, at which time the young begin to grow rapidly. While all related billfish have a high dorsal fin as juveniles, only sailfish retain the high fin throughout life.

Feeding Habits and Hunting Techniques

Both Atlantic and Pacific sailfish feed primarily on small, schooling fish. They stay at depths above the thermocline, in waters with temperatures between 70 and 85 F. Compared to Pacific sailfish, Atlantic sailfish usually stay in deeper water year round, even depths as great as 600 feet. Many fishermen have observed groups of feeding sailfish schooling baitfish. Sailfish will work together in hunting groups to facilitate capturing prey.

In groups, they create bait balls by walling in prey with their fins and driving it to the water surface. One by one, the sailfish dart in to feed and return to the outer circle, awaiting their next opportunity. While baitfish often exhibit group behaviors that benefit the school, cooperative behavior like this is rare in oceanic predators. The very intelligent orca (or killer whale) is another well-known predator that works in coordinated packs. This group hunting behavior is also a reason for the many multiple hook-ups that occur when fishing for this species.

Migratory Patterns and Seasonal Behavior

Have you ever wondered why there seems to be an abundance of sailfish in the winter season? Is it that they, like many Americans, prefer the comparatively mild Florida winter? This is closer to the truth than you may think. Although they inhabit a huge area of the ocean, Atlantic sailfish definitely favor areas near the Gulf Stream. There, they congregate in the warm waters just offshore from the continent, out to the continental shelf and over seamounts. Their migrations are directly linked to changes in water temperature. On the U.S. East Coast, they migrate north in April and May and return southward in September and October. These migrations correspond so closely with temperature that scientists can predict the arrival of Atlantic sailfish in a particular location with a high degree of accuracy.

So sharpen your hooks and rig your ballyhoo! The sails come marching in!


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