Where to Catch Sailfish
Catching sailfish in Costa Rica
You can catch sailfish all year round in Costa Rica. With this being the case, sailfish do become very active in December through May, with the peak season being February to April. When fishing for sailfish offshore in Costa Rica, you will often experience sailfish “free-jumping” or “flopping” out of the water, in order to remove parasites from their gills. You may also see sailfish slowly swimming on the ocean’s surface with a visible tail-fin above the water. Sailfish often travel in “schools” as well as working together to feed on small fish, sardines, and squid. In Costa Rica, they are mostly caught on circle hooks with dead bait attached, however, they can also be caught with live bait around reefs or rocks. This link includes where you need a fishing licenses in Costa Rica
Catching sailfish in The Florida Keys
Water temperature plays a huge role in catching sailfish in the Florida Keys. In the winter, big schools of sailfish move to shallow waters with reefs where it’s warmer. During spring, they will migrate through the Florida Keys and feed near reef edges and swim close to the surface into the current. The most effective bait to use when catching sailfish in Florida Keys is live bait such as shrimp, or small blue crab. Pilchards and sardines are also useful baits when fishing for sailfish in the winter or fall. You can also use artificial lures including jigs, plugs, and poppers to catch sailfish in Florida Keys. Here’s a link that has a detailed map with fishing hotspot names in the Florida Keys
Catching sailfish in Isla Mujeres, Mexico
A good spot to catch sailfish in Mexico is Isla Mujeres. In fact, January through June offers the best chance to catch sailfish, with April and May being the peak of the season. Isla Mujeres stretches for approximately 5 miles off the coast and is a short flight for many major U.S cities. A common method of catching sailfish in Isla Mujeres is “fishing the bait-balls”. Anglers work together to get smaller fish to gather up by dumping ballyhoo and waiting for sailfish to pick up the bait. Another common method to catch sailfish can include using baits such as goggle-eyes, blue runners, minnows, pilchards and speedos.
In conclusion, when choosing where to catch sailfish, it’s important to keep in mind where to use different baits and lures. Another key point to keep in mind is sailfish gather in schools and sometimes can be found in different areas during changing seasons. Before you go catch a sailfish, make sure to have knowledge on the latest rules and regulations as they do change overtime. If this sounds like something you’re interested in, let us know and we will be happy to point you in the right direction.
