Handling Sailfish

[Paul Arden]

Ok doke. What’s the best way of handling these fish? I know it’s quite popular to put them on your lap, but I’m guessing it’s best to keep them in the water

Comments please!

Thanks, Paul

[Paul Arden]

Bumpity bump!

[Mangrove Cuckoo]

It has been years, but they were a nuisance when commercials fishing.

Grab em by the nose, with gloves, and have your thumbs pointing together. That way you can steer them away from you if they push.

They are not so bad at boat side being just oversized needlefish with no teeth.

A third hand gets the hook out. No need to remove em from the water.

[Paul Arden]

Thanks Gary! Do you know if you can roll them like Tarpon? I’m guessing the fin might stop that!

Cheers, Paul

[Jonathan]

I do have a picture with one on my lap Paul, but feel embarrassed every time I look at it.
Fortunately as Gary notes they have a "handle" to hang onto while in the water alongside the boat and I agree keep them there - they are generally not too big as billfish (and even tarpon) go.
My billfish experience was largely not with fly. Be careful as bills are abrasive (certainly use a glove) and sharp enough to do damage. A friend had his face sliced open while landing a sailfish and after seeing this I suggest keep your arm and hand above the fish and between your face and the bill - grab downwards. Certainly they are not as technically demanding as being a wireman on a marlin boat.
A loose billfish in the boat with you can be pretty hectic - Youtube has some epic encounters with large marlin.
Are you going to Rompin?
Jon

[Paul Arden]

Thanks Jon. Yes I’m heading there next weekend. Three days of fishing. I don’t think I’ll be doing the grabbing, well maybe, I just want to make sure that this is all done with the best interests of the fish (well almost the best interests ).

Cheers, Paul

[Paul Arden]

https://ticotimes.net/2017/06/04/dream- ... fish-water

[Jonathan]

Agreed Paul. I do still have a reservation in the back of my mind that catch and release generally might not be too good for the fish (but enough on that for the present).
More important - did you catch fish?
Great restaurant in Rompin (if I could only remember its name ).
Jon

[Paul Arden]

Don’t know yet - fishing Tuesday to Thursday next week! I’d better catch a fish - the pressure is on

Cheers, Paul

[Morsie]

They don't handle well at all. Lifting them out of the water in my view is a death sentence. I reckon the ocean floor at Rompin would be carpeted with dead sails on some days. The handling there is invariably very poor. They need to be swum before being let go. The surface water is very warm and invariably glassy calm - therefore low in oxygen most days.