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Exploring the beautiful nature of California


Marine Fish: Sailfish


Fishes are aquatic vertebrates that have fins, gills and scales. Gills are the part of the respiratory system that provide surface area for exchanging oxygen and carbon dioxide under water.

Fish are ectotherms, commonly referred to as 'cold-blooded', meaning their temperature is regulated by the temperature of their environment. They have a range of diets, being herbivores, carnivores, or omnivores. Some fish reproduce by laying eggs, while others reproduce by bearing live young.

California fish species reside in freshwater and coastal/marine waters. Coastal, or marine fish are an abundant and valuable resource. However, the ocean's supply is not limitless, and therefore careful planning and education must be undertaken to ensure the sustainability of the world's largest food source.
sailfish are a grat catch for sportsmen fisherman in California The sailfish is easily identified by its large sail shaped front dorsal fin which is very large compared to similar fish such as white marlin or longbills. The large blue dorsal fin is a rich blue covered with black spots and is square and upright at the front end.

The body of the sailfish is a deep blue on top with a blue/brown stripe along the center line of the body. The bottom half of the body is silver to white. Like the otherCalifornia game and fish such as the blue marlin and white marlin the sailfish also has an extended upper jaw shaped like a spear.

Sailfish grow to 7 feet and are therefore considered a worthy trophy by Florida game and fish sportsmen. Generally speaking the larger catches are the females. The sailfish is a rapid swimmer and anyone who has gone marlin fishing will know when they have one of these on the end of the line as they can reach speeds of 40-50 knots!
Spawning is thought to be in the warmer summer months in water that is fairly shallow, where mating males and females will swim side by side. Sometimes a group of 2 or 3 males will stalk a female. These little ones grow fast attaining a length of 48" to 60" in the first year of life. The females release 4.5 million eggs annually.

The Sailfish feeds on halfbeaks, mackerel, mullet, needlefish, small tuna, cephalopods and crustaceans. Apart from Dorado, the Pacific Sailfish are the most sought after species in the summer months.

Sailfish around California get to over 130 pounds. We will see the first ones in the area as early as April, but the numbers increase in the month of June and they stay into October. The sailfish will run and jump while shaking its head back and fourth after being hooked. This is its tactic to release itself from your line.
sailfish have beautiful colors and a large fan fin It is theorized by marine biologists that the 'sail' (dorsal fin array) of the sailfish may serve the purpose of a cooling and heating system for this fish; this due to a network of a large number blood vessels found in the sail and because of "sail-raising" behavior exhibited by the sailfish at of near the surface waters after or before high-speed bursts.

Sailfish are able to prey on the faster fish in the sea because their top speed has been clocked at 68 mph, making them one of the fastest fish in the ocean. The Indo-pacific sailfish is related to the Marlin.

Pacific Sailfish grow much larger than their cousins in the Atlantic.  Although the two both have bright blue dorsal fins, they differ somewhat in coloration. 
 
 
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