The sailfish is one of the most prized game fish and Florida is famous for great sailfish fishing. Sailfish are incredibly fast and beautiful. They have been clocked at speeds over 65 mph, which makes them one of the fastest fish.
Top spots in Florida for Sailfishing include Stuart Florida (the sailfish capitol of the world) and Islamorada in the Keys.
Florida is famous for all kinds of fishing. From Jacksonville to Key West and Naples to Pensacola the waters around Florida are teeming with a variety of fish. If you are looking to do some sailfish fishing then here is guide to when and where to fish for Sailfish in Florida.
Facts about Sailfish
The average weight is 30 to 60 pounds but some are up to 100 pounds. Sailfish can grow up to 150 pounds and about seven feet long. The world record for a sailfish is 221 pounds, the Florida record is 116 pounds.
A sailfish on the hook off the coast of Islamorada in the Florida Keys
Best Time for Sailfish
The best time for sailfish is December to February but they are caught year round.
Sailfish are a protected game fish and must be released.
Charter Fishing Boats
Unless you have a friend with a fishing boat you will want to reserver a charter fishing boat. Typically you can get a charter for half day or full day. Half day charters are typically in the $400 to $500 range while full day fishing charters are in the $800 to $1,000 range. Prices are usually based on 4 people and many charter captains will accommodate additional fishermen at an additional price per person.
The Treasure Coast spans from Palm Beach north to Sebastian. Stuart Florida in Martin County sits right in the middle of the Treasure Coast on the Atlantic Coast and is known as the Sailfish capital of the world.
Stuart has many marinas but the main areas with a concentration of marinas and fishing charters in Stuart are Manatee Pocket and Downtown Jensen Beach.
There are many charter fishing boats in Stuart at the big marinas. Typically you can get a charter for half day or full day.
If you are heading to the Florida Keys and looking to go deep sea fishing then consider Islamorada as a destination.
Islamorada is in the northern part of the Florida Keys and has many excellent water front hotels and resorts and many charter fishing boats to choose from.
Like most of the Florida Keys, Islamorada is a very narrow strip of land with the Atlantic Ocean on the east side and Florida Bay on the west side. A great spot to get your fishing gear and find a charter fishing boat in Islamorada is at World Wide Sportsman at mile marker 81.6 on the bay side.
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