Atlantic Sailfish

(Istiophorus albicans)

The Atlantic Sailfish is known by its bill and its sail. The species is in the same family with the Marlin.

Counting the bill, this fish may approach 3m in length, and is quite common at about 2.5m.

Sailfish are most numerous in warm water, but the Atlantic sailfish wanders far from the tropics, reaching Maine on the west and England on the east side of the North Atlantic. They are common throughout the Gulf of Mexico and the warm waters of the Caribbean.

Sailfish may frequent open-ocean, or ease in very close to shore. Their traveling patterns are tied very closely to slight temperature changes.

Sailfish prefer fish and squid, and the bill may be used to stun large prey.