Where is the sailfish located

They are found near the ocean surface usually far from land feeding on schools of smaller fish like sardines and anchovies, which they often shepherd with their sails, making them easy prey. They also feast on squid and octopus. Their meat is fairly tough and not widely eaten, but they are prized as game fish. These powerful, streamlined beasts can grow to more than 10 feet and weigh up to pounds.

When hooked, they will fight vigorously, leaping and diving repeatedly, and sometimes taking hours to land. Sailfish are fairly abundant throughout their range, and their population is considered stable. They are under no special status or protections. All rights reserved.

Common Name: Sailfish. Scientific Name: Istiophorus. Type: Fish. Diet: Carnivore. Group Name: School. Size: 5. Weight: to pounds. Size relative to a 6-ft man:. While spawning, a single female may release several million eggs to increase the likelihood that some will be fertilized. Sailfish are popular in recreational fishing catch and release but have little value in the commercial fishing industry and cannot be fished commercially in the Atlantic Ocean.

Sailfish are also caught as bycatch by driftnets, harpoons and commercial, long-line tuna fisheries, where bycatch numbers are not accurately reported. Sailfish are considered the fastest fish in the sea, reaching top speeds of 70 miles per hour. The largest sailfish ever caught was Sailfish can live for 13 to 15 years. However, sailfish caught and released by sport fishermen have an average lifespan of only 4 to 5 years. Sailfish spend their entire lives near the surface of the open ocean, but can dive up to 1, feet m to find food.

Click here or below to download hands-on marine science activities for kids. FAO Species Catalogue. FAO: Family Istiophoridae.

The Sailfish is an oceanic species that feeds on schooling fishes such as sardines, anchovies and mackerels. Nakamura states that the feeding behaviour of I.

They then drove at the prey at full speed with their fins completely folded back and once they had caught up with it, they suddenly made sharp turns with their fins fully expanded to confront a part of the school and then hit the prey with the bill.

Subsequently they ate the killed and stunned fish, usually head first. I have identified Torquigener spp from gut contents of the latter, especially Torquigener altipinnis. They have often been observed 'balling up' toadfishes at the surface for this purpose and there are reports of them sometimes behaving strangely eg leaping erratically following these feeding activities.. The Australian Museum respects and acknowledges the Gadigal people as the First Peoples and Traditional Custodians of the land and waterways on which the Museum stands.

Image credit: gadigal yilimung shield made by Uncle Charles Chicka Madden. This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website.

Learn more. The body length of the fish was about 2 m. Note the blue banding on the body. Image: B. Introduction Most sources believe that the fastest species of fish is the Sailfish, Istiophorus platypterus. Identification A fairly compressed body with a long bill and jaws with file-like teeth. Toggle Caption A juvenile sailfish specimen in the museum's collection.