Atlantic sailfish
Istiophorus albicans
- Usual depth31.5 m
- Water temperature26–29 °C
- Best monthsMay, June, and November
- How commonOccasional
About this species
The Atlantic sailfish is a species of marine fish in the family Istiophoridae of the order Istiophoriformes. It is found in the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea, except for large areas of the central North Atlantic and the central South Atlantic, from the surface to depths of 200 m (656 ft). The Atlantic sailfish is related to the marlin.
Text from the Wikipedia article “Atlantic sailfish”, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the article
Where and when
Where it has been recorded
Worldwide
Loading the map
Best months
Worldwide (open data)
- January: 0 records
- February: 0 records
- March: 0 records
- April: 0 records
- May: 17 records
- June: 23 records
- July: 0 records
- August: 0 records
- September: 1 records
- October: 17 records
- November: 20 records
- December: 1 records
Depth and water temperature
Depth
Mostly recorded at 31.5 m · Deepest record: 31.5 m
Water temperature
Recorded in surface water of 26–29 °C
Names and classification
- English
- Atlantic sailfish, Sailfish, Atlantic sailfish, Sailfish, sailfish
Names in 3 more languages
- German
- Atlantischer Fächerfisch, Fächerfisch, Segelfisch
- Spanish
- Pez vela del Atlántico
- French
- Mère, Voilier de l'Atlantique, Voilier d'Atlantique, voilier de l'Atlantique, Voilier de l'Atlantique
Other scientific names: Histiophorus albicans, Histiophorus americanus, Histiophorus granulifer, Histiophorus pulchellus, Istiophorus americanus, Istiophorus maguirei, Istiophorus volador, Istiophorus wrighti, Makaira albicans, Makaira velifera, Skeponopodus guebucu
Similar species
Indo-Pacific sailfishIstiophorus platypterus
Black marlinIstiompax indica
Striped marlinKajikia audax
Atlantic blue marlinMakaira nigricans
Atlantic white marlinKajikia albida
- Indo-Pacific blue marlin
Makaira mazara
Sources and credits
Names and taxonomy: WoRMS (CC BY 4.0) and the GBIF Backbone (CC BY 4.0). Photos: iNaturalist observers, each under the licence shown (CC0, CC BY or CC BY-SA).
- Depth, temperature, months and maps: records from OBIS and GBIF under CC0 or CC BY.
- Descriptions: Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA, each linked to its article.
- Conservation status as published by GBIF (IUCN Red List).
- 1,612 open-data records from 1953 to 2018.
- Species data updated November 3, 2026.
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