Theories on the abundance of Sailfish at the piers

btucker51175 · Theories on the abundance of Sailfish at the piers

I was wondering if anybody knows why you guys are seeing and catching so many sailfish from the pier this year. Does anyone remember this many sailfish seen from the pier in the past? I think it is one of the coolest things I have ever seen caught from the pier and was just wondering what you guys think about it. I am so glad that I got to see one caught a couple of weeks ago. Do you think this trend will continue for the years to come? Does this mean that more offshore fish will start coming close to the pier? Is it all the Houndfish and or Ballyhoo that are hanging around? Let me know what you think.

inshorefisherman

where was that one from ?

jaceboat

its the east wind and current. its been pushin all the pelagics in like the mahi and sailfish,

btucker51175

Pier#r

Likely it's a combination of factors.

First off: sailfish numbers may be up (let's hope).
That could be due to environmental factors, the recent drought years, or past hurricanes, (who knows

) but it may have just been a good spawn a few years ago.
Or maybe the tighter regulations on lingliners have lead to less by-catch of sailfish.

The unusual weather pattern: this was an el Nino summer.
It happens about every 10 years or so, but this is a fairly strong one as evidenced by the lack of tropical activity in the western Atlantic, especially the GoM.

More awareness: more anglers know what to look for.
When those balihoos shower something may be afoot

Just some 'pet theories' of mine

kingling

it could have to do that last year at this time that gas prices were through the roof and no one could target them in boats
it probly also has something to do with the southeast wind we had blowing for about 2 or 3 weeks straight

Kingfshr

Might be a loop current of good offshore water. We can only hope it's a trend for the future. Site fishing Sails and Mahi from a pier is a blast.

Bama

Hopefully all these sails forshadow a strong blackfin run this fall.

seanspots

FishinDon

This is an interesting thread for an old science teacher. I think it is a combination of several things you have mentioned. Whether it is less sportfishing, better conservation, greater spawn, El Nino, less predators, global warming, whatever, one would have to assume that either the population is up or they are just coming closer. Can anyone remember a few years back when we had a quiet Atlantic and Gulf season like this year, were there a lot of sails then? I don't remember. One thing for sure. I hope they hang agound til ole Don can get a hook in one!!!!

jewfish

The fact that I caught one the other day tells me there is something very strange going on.

I was previously 0-2 on sails, both shots were out of a boat on the east coast.

Now I just need a BFT, dolphin and cobia and my pier fishing mastery will be complete.

blaminack

Or luckfest... which ever. LOL

BigKenny

We had a east push for 2 weeks that brought in sargasm grass & Dolphin, sails, & did see some black fins last week. iTS THE TIME OF YEAR FOR THIS. I remember catching blackfins into december on p-bch pier. There were cigs, kings & black fins. It's hard to say what all causes it but it does happen. Time of year I guess. Whatever, I'll take it!

jewfish

We saw 9 or 10 today at PCB.

Kingfshr

Dow · Abundant Sails this year...

I was thinking and came up with this. Is there anyway we can compile all reports entailing sailfish for the past month or so and email it to the National Marine Fisheries/FWC/etc... and see if we can get any feed back on them as well as what the current stock is rated at? I mean we usually see a few sails in the fall, but this year is nuts. Reminds me of the tarpon spurt we had a few years ago. Anyone got any feedback? I think CCA would be quite interested in it as well. Also I think the marine biology department at UWF would be interested in this panhandle sail spike as well.

Calvin · Re: Abundant Sails this year...

jewfish

You know, I'm just happy to be enjoying this.

Dow

Oh yea, enjoyable as hell. But I'd like to see the scientific aspect of the sails being so abundent inshore this year. Global Warming, large push of blue water.... I mean wtf is the deal? Since I've been pier fishing there has only been a handful of us out in the fall LOOKing for sails in specific... I mean, whats the deal mang?

blaminack

I think it has been the lack of hurricanes and tropical storms... BTW Al Gore said that we would be having more not less.

Dow

We've had many years with a lack of storms. I personally don't see that as the big factor... Science, make sure you kids pass it! Conservation depends on it. Seriously though, I'd like an answer from a serious entity, I don't have the means to compile and send everything other wise I would. But I would love to see their response to the numerous sails.

jewfish

I'm going to go with blue water push, wind direction, bait and the gill net ban. The whole blind squirrel/nut theory is how I'm personally explaining it for my luck.

Calvin

I wonder if they had a bunch of Sailfish catches in the fall before "Blood Wednesday" Cobia season.

Nite Legend

blaminack

While I am not a Marine Biologist I do believe that storms do have a lot to do with it. The reason is they churn up the sediments and cool the water, both of which would send the Sails further south. And no I didn't sleep at a Holiday Inn Express last night.

Dow

The biggest question is, who, that is computer savvy will compile this and email it in? It is obviously something that has us pier fisherman as whole baffled. In the words of a coon ass... "Who dat gonna send it in?"

Calvin

Manny needs to be the one. For real. He's the only one thats hooked 2 from the pier, right?

jewfish

Calvin, actually hooked 3, 2 within 10 minutes of each other. 2 out of three that I have hooked and seen many, many more fish.

I'm guessing something to do with bait, alot of the sails are chasing/eating needlefish/houndfish.

I don't mind talking to NFMS or whatever, I'm not overly computer literate though.

Calvin

PBTH

Well, as the soon to be marine biologist that I am I can do my best to give a little insight. I can also go ahead and just ask my professors at UWF since I am taking courses with all of the fish biologist this semester.

I personally don't think it's any one tremendous thing. Maybe just a combination of small things adding up. Sailfish are usually spotted this time of year just off our beaches, so these fish being here isn't that much of a surprise. They are here due to there being adequate or optimal conditions for them. These conditions include water temp, salinity, dissolved oxygen, abundance of forage species, and I'm sure a few other things I'm leaving out.

It might be that in other years only a few of these conditions are ideal for sails to come close in and that this year many of these conditions are favorable for sailfish. This could explain the influx of shallow water sailfish. I was in the Keys all summer so I can't comment on summer weather patterns being involved in creating this fall frenzy. I can tell you that it's not uncommon to run past sailfish while driving over the reef in 15ft of water.

It could also have to do with a strong year class of sailfish or baitfish. A year class is the number of spawned fish that survived in any one year and this fluctuates for every fish species due to varying yearly conditions. This means that a few years ago maybe conditions were optimum for juvenile sailfish to survive and we are just now seeing that benefit. For those who don't know, sailfish, as with most bluewater pelagics, grow extremely rapidly and can reach maturity and quality size in only a few years. Compare their grow to that of Coryphaena hippurus, only slightly slower. However, I don't believe this to be the reason as there seems to be sailfish of all sizes being hooked. It could be that baitfish species may have had a good year class (aka there's a whole lot of bait) and the sailfish are simply taking advantage of the nearshore abundance while conditions allow.

As for the net ban, I'm sure it is having an impact on all fish populations, including sailfish. However, I don't think it's a big player in explaining this nearshore sailfish aggregation. The net ban took place in the mid 90's and as I said sailfish grow extremely rapidly. So, I'm sure the lack of nets has lead to a more robust population of sails, but for a fish whose spawning population consists primarily of individuals under the age of 5yrs I don't think a net ban 15yrs ago could explain this rapid influx in the past few years of such a fast growing fish.

So, it could be a number of things. I'll go ahead and asked the guys with multiple degrees and see what their input is.

PS Here's a neat little abstract

http://www.ingentaconnect.com/con...r/1957/00000007/00000001/art00001

Rick

what is the total of sails caught for each pier this year?

T.MASS

Dow

As far as bait goes, we are having pretty much below average bait populations. That goes for the whole year. Even the elys weren't as thick this year, so I would say that it's safe to throw that theory out.

Dow

Also caught has little to do with it cause none that I know have been reported, it's the amount seen that concerns me? like red snapper and gags, which is extremely FLAWED. Being in the northern gulf I think this many sailfish signfies some thing major. All I really have to say is WTF? I'd like to hear from National Marine Fisheries on this one, even though they %^&*( up on there red and gag counts.

Bama

We are experiencing an El Nino right now, which should continue on through the winter. I'd imagine that has something to do with it.

Pier#r

http://emeraldcoastpierfishing.myfastforum.org/about2588.html

They sure are having a good year (at least along the west FL panhandle).

I tend to disagree with notion of the 'Net Ban' having much to do with it.
It would seem more likely that recent changes (restrictions) in longline fishing would have benefited pelagics more

In discussions on this subject with other pier anglers one guy told me how he worked on a longliner for several years, and was amazed at the number of sailfish they caught. He stated almost all were released dead, or nearly dead.

Jigslinger

The biggest reason the sails are so thick down there right now is because I can't get down there to fish for them, so you can all thank me for this phenomenon.

btucker51175

pierbird

current+wind + gulf stream

Ernie & Linda

I heard roffs images have been showing blue water abnormally scattered everywhere.
And as far as bait, over hear where we been yakin, its like a solid band of different bait concentrated on bottom in about 30ft of water or about 50-100 yards out from pier distance. Im talkin everywhere on the bottom in that zone. Linda and i have noticed you drop the sabiki north or south of this band , and notta. You drift through the zone and get every hook loaded. The bait is piled up for the pelagics.

robertyb

I has been a strange year. More remoras and houndfish are around than I have ever seen before and in one month I saw about 30 sailfish off the new PCB pier. I had never seen one in all the years I fished the old pier.

Strange weather patterns and and strange fish and animal patterns. Everything seems to be about a month off this year. I think ya'll are in for a fantastic November this year.

Justin

I noticed the same bait stacking up in Navarre this spring Ernie, seemed like a line along the beach with herring and cigs. I've never been able to catch bait like that either. No structure or anything around.

Energy is not expended uselessly in nature, most everything takes the path of least resistance. I think they are here because of the amounts of bait along the beaches, but that doesn't explain why all the bait is on the beaches. One extraordinary event causing a chain of extraordinary events? Lets stop talking about it, it might run them off...

ghettowrapped

beach renourishment...when they pulled the sand from the outer bar, they uncovered an ancient enzyme that the baitfish have been waiting to chow on. i think the mayan calendar prophesied this event.

Justin

Forgot to ask but has anyone noticed kings running with the sails? I saw this last weekend. Sail comes through and a king is hooked almost immediately.

T-wagon · Re: Theories on the abundance of Sailfish at the piers

pop I

ghettowrapped

how can a professor with a degree know wtf is going on when he(she) sits behind a desk in their ivory tower? why do we have to know the answer? just enjoy it. so many times you hear all the soothsayers claiming to know why fish swim, the stars are aligned and blah, blah, blah only to be proven wrong by mother nature next year. if you really want to know about the sailfish, ask the sailfish, not a college professor with multiple degrees in WHAT?!

Calvin

ghettowrapped

you shoulda asked him to meet you at pickens, i hear there isn't much of a crowd there!

Angler Management

Who cares why we're seeing so many, just sit back and enjoy it. I've had a blast with the sails being able to land 1, hook 1, and throw on many many more. It's awesome that we can see all of this off our piers. I've personally seen em' come on the second bar haullin ass chasing hound fish, something most people have to watch the discovery channel to see. I'm perfectly content with just seeing them much less catching one. I just can't wait for next sailfish season

kidcobia

ghettowrapped

Garb

According to Chart Nav the blue water has been just offshore about 5 to 6 miles for the last 2 months or so. The above picture is what it has look like since Aug.

ghettowrapped

looks like a colonoscopy

Jake

You no what i got too say kill every billfish you can. just to give will mills a heart attack. he is a syko yankkie.

BigKenny

jon tolar

Kingfshr

Looks real close to Cape san Blas.

Pier#r

because the FL Panhandle has THE BEST looking water

http://rapidfire.sci.gsfc.nasa.go.../index.php?subset=AERONET_Stennis

cig slinger

they have been abundant because of obama

Jigslinger

cig slinger

and it seems people only catch them when im not there we only spot them then

Theories on the abundance of Sailfish at the piers

Abundant Sails this year...

Re: Abundant Sails this year...

Re: Theories on the abundance of Sailfish at the piers