Billfish are pelagic and highly migratory fish. They are found in all oceans, although they usually inhabit tropical and subtropical waters. Swordfish are found in temperate waters as well. Billfish are some of the most exciting fish to catch in the entire ocean.
Billfish Fishing in the Key West, Florida Area
Key West is home to some amazing fishing for billfish since the gulf stream waters are very close to shore. It isn’t a long boat ride out to blue water which means you have access to a variety of billfish year round. Sailfish typically will come closest to shore, so you do hear a lot about sailfish being caught as they move closer and are easier to target. You can catch sailfish here year round, but the peak times are typically end of fall through early winter and then again in the spring.
For the marlin anglers, you will have to go further offshore to find them consistently, but it still is not a far boat ride compared to most of Florida’s other popular deep sea fishing destinations. Blue marlin and while marlin are common among charters out of Key West. Swordfish are here too, but you may have to go further out to find them with charters catching them in waters around 1,500 to 1,800 feet deep and some boats will even go out further to find even deeper water.
Learn more about the different types of billfish below.
Black Marlin
Black Marlin are found in tropical and temperate waters of the Pacific and Indian Oceans. They are an offshore species that is known for being one of the strongest fighting fish of the ocean. They are meaner and more aggressive than a blue marlin of the same size. Because of their aggressiveness and willingness to put up a fight, it is not uncommon to hear of a black marlin dying as a result of being caught. Black marlin appear almost identical to blue marlin in body structure. The color of their back is where they differ from a blue marlin. The black marlin has a back that is much darker. It is actually a very dark blue, but because it is so dark, it has been given the name black marlin.
Blue Marlin
You can find the blue marlin in the offshore waters along all 3 U.S. coasts. The blue marlin is what most offshore fishermen consider to be the top prize of the ocean. Most blue marlin are found beyond the 100 foot fathom line. You will not find them around the inshore waters. They like to congregate near temperature breaks near lots of forage. They are very big and they provide an outstanding show once they are hooked.
Sailfish
Sailfish are found on the west coast, gulf coast, throughout Florida and up to the Outer Banks of the Carolinas. These fish can be found offshore. They are known for their acrobatic jumps and tail walks along the surface. The Pacific Sailfish grows to about twice the size of Atlantic Sailfish. Pacific Sailfish can grow up to 250 pounds.
Striped Marlin
The striped marlin is the marlin of the Pacific coast. It is bigger than the white marlin of the Atlantic coast. The striped marlin is found close to the shore in the waters of Southern California, off the Baja Peninsula and off Hawaii. This fish provides exciting surface strikes and an acrobatic performance when hooked.
Learn More About Striped Marlin
Swordfish
Swordfish can be found throughout the entire world in warm waters. Commercial fisheries have reduced the populations of swordfish, but there are still many available and they are worth traveling many miles to catch.
It is extremely hard and very time-consuming just to get a swordfish to strike your bait. When you finally do get a strike, it will take some skill to land the fish. When you get it to the boat, all the time spent is absolutely worth it. Most fishermen troll many miles searching for a swordfish. Trolling in deeper water is the best way to catch swordfish. They can be found in 200 to 300 feet of water. Heavy trolling sinkers rigged with bonito, squid and mackerel will produce some fish. Large hooks and heavy tackle are a must with these large fish. They can weigh as much as 400 pounds.
White Marlin
The white marlin is a middleweight compared to other billfish. It is found along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts. White marlin are exciting to catch as they will jump repeatedly once they are hooked. White marlin can be finicky at times and extremely aggressive at other times. Once they decide they are going to eat a bait, there is no stopping them. They will rush in with the mouth open ready to attack. Trolling is the most popular method for catching these fish. You can find them on temperature breaks near schools of bait fish. Balao, mullet, squid and eel are all excellent natural baits. Artificials such as plastic squid and trolling skirts will also fool a marlin to bite. White marlin are beloved by most anglers so they release most fish immediately.
