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