Description: color dark blue on top, brown-blue laterally,
silvery white underbelly; upper jaw elongated in form of spear; first dorsal
greatly enlarged in the form of a sail, with many black spots, its front squared
off, highest at its mid point; pelvic fins very narrow, reaching almost to the
anus; body covered with imbedded scales, blunt at end; lateral line curved over
pectoral, then straight to base of tail
Similar fish: white marlin, T. albidus, young blue
marlin, M. nigricans (spectacular sail-like dorsal of sailfish is most
notable difference)
Where found: offshore species, in south Florida associated with
waters near the Gulfstream; off the Panhandle near the 100 fathom line
Size: common to 7 feet
Remarks: rapid growing species, reaching 4 to 5 feet in a
single year; swims at speeds up to 50 knots; feeds on the surfact or at
mid-depths on smaller pelagic fishes and squid