IDENTIFICATION The general body colour is metallic blue and the cobalt blue sail
is dotted with black markings. The slender, round bill is above a straight lower jaw. The dorsal
fin is very high and extends almost the entire length of the body. The pectoral fins are very long
and the tail is slightly V-shaped. There is a clear lateral line.
DISTRIBUTION Sailfish are widely distributed in tropical, subtropical and warm
temperate waters of the Pacific, Indian and Atlantic Oceans between latitudes 30oN and 30oS. The
Indo-Pacific variety is a separate population from those in the Atlantic Ocean and are seen
primarily near the surface. The densest concentrations of sailfish are near large land masses or
offshore islands. Post-larval sailfish have been recorded off KwaZulu-Natal between January and
April. Sailfish tend to migrate to tropical waters in winter and the higher latitudes in summer.
Most migration patterns are closely associated with warm currents. It is believed that the fish off
KwaZulu-Natal migrate down from northern Mozambique between November and February.
FEEDING The diet consists of small fish associated with flotsam, small tuna,
mackerel, mullet and anchovies. Feeding occurs in daylight and may involve herding the prey into a
tight round shoal.
REPRODUCTION The fish start to mature when they are three years old at about 30 kg
and 150 cm lower bill to fork length. The females usually grow larger than the males and the male
to female sex ratio is 1:4. Spawning occurs in the tropics on the continental shelf throughout the
year with a peak in summer.
GROWTH The fish grows to more than 340 cm (100 kg) and the maximum age is 15
years.
FISHERY This is an important recreational and commercial species throughout its
range. Off South Africa they are mainly targeted by recreational ski-boat anglers in northern
KwaZulu-Natal. There has been an increase in landings recorded in the Indian Ocean and a decrease
in catch per unit effort in the western Pacific.
MANAGEMENT • Categorised as a recreational species.
• Recreational and commercial anglers are allowed 5 per person per day.
• There is no size limit and no closed season.
The current status of this fish population is not known. Research is needed on age and
growth, stock distribution and assessment, reproduction and migration.
Rudy van der Elst and Bruce Mann are acknowledged for the scientific information on which this
publication is based.
