Sailfish: Florida's Ultimate Ocean Kayaking Adventure

Sailfish are one of the fastest fish in the ocean, one of the biggest fish you can catch in Florida, and display remarkable acrobatics once hooked. For most people, the thought of catching a sailfish from a kayak is just unfathomable. Not only can these fish be caught and released from a kayak, but they can also be landed fairly easily with the right equipment and technique. Let’s start with some fishery basics.

Sailfish are, of course, fish of the deep oceans. Short of ferrying kayaks far offshore on a powerboat, there are only two places in the U.S. where it’s practical to reach them under paddle power alone. The stretch of Southeast Florida between Jupiter and Miami is one of these places. The other is the Emerald Coast of Florida along the northern Gulf of Mexico, from Pensacola to Panama City Beach. Southeast Florida offers a year-round fishery, but the Panhandle bite typically occurs from July through September when Gulf waters are warm and loaded with baitfish. In both regions, sailfish may be encountered within 2 miles of the coast.

The most widely used techniques are slow-trolling or drifting, both of which involve similar gear and baits. Tackle for targeting sailfish can vary on your preference, but I like to use a 6'6" 20- to 60-pound-class Crowder E-Namic Series rod, with a reel that will hold at least 300 yards. I use spinning reels because that’s what I am accustomed to, but a conventional reel works just as well.

Many sailfish anglers insist on using monofilament main line for the stretch it provides, but I have never had issues with braided line and it gives you more line capacity without having to use a big, heavy reel. Tasline braid in the 30- or 40-pound class combined with 15 feet of 40- to 60-pound Yo-Zuri fluorocarbon leader has proven to be an effective combination. If you are using monofilament main line (typically 20- to 30-pound test), tie-on the same 15 feet of 40- to 60-pound leader. The size of the hook will depend on the size of your bait; smaller bait means a smaller hook. I exclusively fish with Eagle Claw Lazer Sharp inline circle hooks from 4/0 to 7/0. If you are specifically targeting sails, an in-line circle hook should always be used to prevent gut-hooking.

There are many types of bait to use for sailfish, ranging from live goggle-eyes to dead squid. My top two baits are live goggle-eyes and pilchards. For the best hookup ratio it’s important you bridle the baits so the circle hook remains exposed. To bridle a bait, take a rubber band specified for the task and lay it across the curve of the hook; put one loop through the other and tighten the band onto the hook. I recommend doing this to a few hooks before getting on the water as it can be a pain with wet hands. Now, using a bridling needle with an open eye, thread the rubber band through the bait just above the eyes.

Once the needle is all the way through the bait, the hook should be on one side and a loop of the band on the other. Take the hook point and put it through the loop sticking out the other side of the bait. Spin the hook, tightening the band until it is snug on top of the baits head, then put the hook point underneath the twist and it should sit tight against the bait with the hook point in the direction of the head of the bait.

When slow-trolling, you want to go just fast enough to keep the bait away from your kayak. If you think you are going slow, go slower. I like to be moving at about 1 to 1 1⁄2 mph. A slow drift can be used when there is enough current or wind to keep the bait away from the kayak. The obvious disadvantage of drifting is that you can’t cover as much water. Sailfish are attracted to structure, drop-offs, current, and temperature changes in depths from 40 to 300 feet of water. When you begin your troll, start shallow and work your way to deeper water in a zigzag pattern. Moving shallow to deep and deep to shallow repeatedly will help you find fish quicker. Once a fish is hooked, mark that area, make note of the conditions, and continue fishing in the vicinity because sailfish often travel in packs and will relate to a certain area for a reason.

A lot of times, sailfish hit the bait with their bill or hold it in their mouth, then drop the bait immediately when they feel the tension of your line. If and when that happens, freespool your bait. Unless they felt the sting of the hook or brushed up against the leader, sailfish will often turn right around and pick it back up. When the fish finally commits and takes off with the bait, engage your reel, keeping constant tension. When that sail feels the hook in its mouth, it will go nuts, dancing across the surface in all directions.

Stay focused and keep the line tight with the fish; this will also prevent the hook from being thrown. Usually, after a few jumps, sailfish go into “drag mode” and tow you around. Put some heat on the fish to tire it out, or you could be pulled around for a while. It’s important to land them as fast as possible to ensure a healthy release. Sharks in Southeast Florida are quick to locate a hooked sailfish that is tired from a long fight.

When landing a sailfish use a pair of gloves to handle the bill of the fish, as it will tear your wet hands up if you have nothing to cover them. Snap a quick photo of the fish in the water and take the time to revive it. They are an amazing fish and a lot of fun to catch. Every time I head offshore with hopes of catching a sailfish, I think to myself how fortunate we are to have such incredible opportunities with world-class opponents within reach of a kayak.

---

• Writer Brian Nelli runs Pushin’ Water Kayak Charters in Southeast Florida. For booking inquiries, reach out to Brian via email at brian@tckayakfishing.com.
• This article was featured in the Junbe 2024 issue of Florida Sportaman magazine. Click to subscribe.

---