Sailfish

Appearance
They are blue to gray in color with a silvery-white underbelly. Their most distinguishing characteristic is their enlarged dorsal fin in the form of a sail, often stretching the entire length of the back. Much like the marlin and other billfishes, the sailfish's upper jaw extends in the form of a spear.

Maximum Size
Sailfish in the Pacific are a larger subspecies than their Atlantic cousin, reaching weights of over 200 pounds (90 kg) and 10 feet (3 m) in length.

Growth Rate
Very fast, often reaching lengths of 4 feet (1.2 m) in its first year.


Geographic Range
The Atlantic sailfish can be found in southwestern Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea. The Pacific species is native to both the Indian and Pacific Ocean.

Behavior
Sailfish are one of the ocean's fastest swimmers, reaching speeds of 50 knots.

Food
Fish and squid.