Catching Sailfish in Puerto Rico
Sailfish are closely related to blue and white marlin. They are named for their sail-like dorsal fin, which spans nearly the entire length of their bodies and can grow to be taller than these fish are long!
Small ballyhoo and live bait on the edge of the reef and along offshore weed lines often produce Sailfish bites
sailfish can grow to be between six and 11 feet long, and weigh between 120 and 230 pounds
Full grown Sailfish are known to eat medium and large bony fishes, crustaceans, and squid. Sailfish may use their elongated bills to disorient or stun prey, and often hunt in schools, balling the bait into tight packs as they slash to stun the prey.
Light 30 pound tackle is the preferred tackle to do battle with Sailfish
Sailfish can live up to 15 years
Sailfish are considered the fastest fish in the sea, reaching top speeds of 70 miles per hour.
Sailfish spend most of their time near the surface of the open ocean, but can dive up to 1,150 feet in search of food.
Where and When to Target Sailfish in Puerto Rico
Sailfish inhabit the coastal waters of Puerto Rico primarily in the winter fishing months however can come into a spread throughout the year. We often target Sailfish exclusively during February just outside of Mayaguez. These fish tend to chase ballyhoo and other bait right up and onto the reefs that run off the west coast coast of P.R. Once we mark a good concertation of bait we put the baits in. A short boat ride of few miles offshore making for easy runs. With Sailfish coming so close to the reefs this also allows us to fish the windy days when its blowing out of the East. Great places to stay to be close to the action are Cabo Rojo, Boquerón, Mayaguez, Rincon, and Aguadilla.
Sailfish Tactics in Puerto Rico
When it come to catching Sailfish, finesse is key. Sailfish can sometime be tricky to hook and other time crash like Blue Marlin. During our Fishing Charters we start by locating groups of bait on the edge of reefs. Just off Mayaguez it drops to 100 fathoms in a few 100 feet just off the reef. This creates great areas for Sailfish to push the bait up into balls on and off the reefs. Dredges, teasers, and light tackle are king when targeting Sailfish. Skirted ballyhoo have caught millions of Sailfish for a long time all over the world. However, for the more experienced angler a 7/0 light wire circle hook with 40 pound fluorocarbon fished just behind the dredges is highly productive. This Sailfish technique involves the angler holding the reel in free spool, feeling the bite, and letting the fish turn and eat before setting the drag to hook the fish. It takes a bit of practice and even the best of us reel up a 1/2 eaten bait.
