Sailfish are large, blue-gray fish with a characteristic sail fin that extends the length of its back. It has an elongated bill, similar to a swordfish. Sailfish live in all oceans of the world, and in the U.S., sail fishing is a popular sport. Sailfish are terrific fighting game fish, with their iridescent blue sail that appears to light up when they strike bait. The sail is kept folded down when the sailfish is swimming, but it raises when the fish is excited, feels threatened, or during feeding. They are a highly valued game fish, known for incredible jumps.

There are many great fishing locations throughout the state of Florida. One of these is Stuart, Florida, which calls itself the "Sailfish Capital"--not just of Florida, but of the world. Other popular locations include Miami, Palm Beach, and the Keys. Another less-known area that still provides excellent sail fishing opportunities is Fort Lauderdale.

From early December through early March, Stuart boasts outstanding sail fishing. You can also catch Dolphin, King Mackeral, Shark, Amerjack, Wahoo, Kingfish, and Bonito during this period, as well as many other species. When you go farther south, such as to the Keys, your season extends from late September to early May.

Regardless of where you choose to fish, you'll want to reserve a chartered tour in advance. While the winter is often your best opportunity for catching sailfish, there are many sailfish that live in Florida year-round, so you can fish any time of year.

There are a number of tactics you can use when catching sailfish. One of the most common methods is trolling in locations where sailfish are most likely to be. Trolling lets you cover a larger area, and it gives the bait more exposure. You can also slow-troll live bait, which is another effective method if live bait is available to you.

If you sailfish in the shallower waters of the Florida Keys, you can often see the fish before it takes your bait. In these areas, you can do what is called sight fishing. This involves looking for sailfish in shallower waters and casting a live bait right at the fish. The sailfish may be only a few feet away, making it some of the most exciting fishing you can imagine. You'll get to see its sail go up and watch it chase your bait.

The most important factor to sail fishing success is understanding the current conditions and choosing the best method based on those conditions. During any given day of fishing, conditions can change, and so should your strategy. The most effective approach is to frequently reevaluate the conditions and your methods.

When you experience success and you see your trophy fish burst out of the water on the line, it's all been worth the effort. Catching a big trophy fish like a sailfish on light tackle is a true team effort, so enjoy the challenge and have fun. Keep this in mind when you choose your line. Unless you are tournament-fishing, your goal is to have fun while giving the fish a fighting chance. Don't go overboard with a 30- or 50-pound line for sail fishing. A beginner should use a 20-pound line, which lets you experience the trill of feeling the sailfish's power. A more experienced angler can move to a 12-pound line to increase the challenge. Eventually, you can move to an 8-pound line for maximum challenge.

For your rod and reel, a 7' spinning rod is ideal for handling any sailfish. A soft tip let you cast live bait easily, but it's still sturdy enough to pull your fish up to the surface. Add a spinning reel, and you'll have a great combination for both sail fishing and other fishing types.

When you catch your sailfish, you have the choice of Catch & Release, and you can even mount your trophy fish without having to kill it. Modern taxidermy methods use space-age resins to create a replica trophy mount. The result is maintenance-free and won't discolor or age like a skin mount. If you are interested in this option, your charter Captain will take several good pictures and measurements, which lets the taxidermist create your fish.