Captain Anthony Riccio (left) and Deckman Makani Kualii with their sailfish.

Rare to Hawaiian waters, the Indo-Pacific sailfish inhabits tropical and temperate waters near landmasses, coral reefs and islands where warm currents are close inshore. Pelagic and migratory, sailfish usually travel alone or in groups.

Schooling instinct is developed very strongly in the sailfish. They mainly school for food and spawning activity.

They are the peacock of the sea with glorious colors and a graceful winged shape.

It has a huge, high, sail-like membrane first dorsal fin, colored slate or cobalt blue with a scattering of black spots. With its pointed bill and graceful, elongated body, the Indo-Pacific sailfish (Istiophorus platypterus) is one of the world’s most charismatic fish species.

The body coloration is predominantly metallic blue, darker on the upper parts and lighter on the sides, with around 20 bluish gray or pale lavender vertical bars along the flanks, along with diffuse brown markings.

Other distinct features are a single and prominent lateral line along the median line of the flanks. Most noticeable, the pelvic fins are very long with a membrane (longer than any other billfish).

So why does it have the sail, and what is its use? Those who have been near these fish as they hunt and ball up their prey can see the answer. That apparently flimsy, supposed balance-destroying sail, when upright, turns the slender-bodied sailfish into a silhouette of a monster fish, increasing the visible body depth in combination with the long-rayed pelvic fins.

It is theorized by marine biologists that the “sail” (dorsal fin array) of the sailfish may serve the purpose of a cooling and heating system for this fish; this due to a network of a large number of blood vessels found in the sail and because of “sail-raising” behavior exhibited by the sailfish at or near the surface waters after or before high-speed bursts.

The most action is found where sailfish are located on or near the surface. They appear to feed mostly in midwater along the edges of reefs or current eddies. They eat squid, octopus, mackerels, tunas, needlefish, flying fish, mullet and other small fishes.

Sailfish are a blend of marine savagery and efficiency in the way they hunt. Sailfish ball their bait schools. One will work the surface by jumping anti-clockwise in a tight circle with sail and fins folded. This apparently random free-jumping is part of an organized ruthless, cooperative feeding pattern. This surface jumping helps ball up the baitfish into tight masses.

Other sailfish in the school will circle below the surface at various levels with dorsal fins and pelvic fins fully extended to look as big as possible to assist in rounding up the bait. Then they gently take their prey from the outside of the column of bait in their circling.

Its fighting ability and spectacular aerial acrobatics, along with fast surface runs, have established its reputation as a top sport fish, but it tires quickly and is considered a light tackle species.

Sailfish have been clocked at over 60 mph, a speed unheard of in any other fish, although more conservative estimates of 25 to 35 mph are more commonly accepted.

There is a resident population of sailfish in Hawaiian waters, but not large enough that they are caught on a regular basis. Most years, there has been at least one per year for Lahaina Harbor, with 84 sailfish weighed and three released since 1979. Nine of those 84 fish weighed were by wahine anglers.

Some of the best years were 1989 with eight, 1992 with six and 1997 with five fish. In 1993, 1999 and 2012, four were caught. The Hawaii state record is a 151-pound fish taken in 2013 from Punalu’u. The Lahaina Harbor record is a 113-pound fish taken in 1979 aboard the Sport Diver with Captain Tad Luckey. The second largest is a 100-pound fish taken in 1986 aboard the Finest Kind with Captain Dave Hudson.

The last sailfish weighed in Lahaina Harbor was a 49.6-pounder in June 2019. This year, there was a sailfish run among the Lahaina charter fleet, with three coming in during a three week period, weighing 41.0, 51.8, and 52.5-pounds.