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10 great places to haul in a sailfish
The sailfish is one of the
classic big-game fish with its famous dorsal fin,
unstinting will to fight and magnificent aerial
performances on the end of a 20-pound test line.
"Sailfish are glamorous," says Doug Olander,
editor in chief of Sport Fishing magazine.
Although other species — like marlin — are far
bigger and stronger, sailfish are easier to find and can
offer the sportsman more "shots" on a given
outing. A shot, Olander says, is whenever a fish is
hooked or seen pursuing a lure or bait. He offers USA
TODAY's Gregg Zoroya top spots to go after sails
(seasons vary).
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Cancun and Isla Mujeres,
Mexico
If fishermen prefer a dash of Mayan ruin
exploration with their sport, these neighboring
Caribbean islands are the places. Both Mexican- and
American-owned charters are available. Outings can
run seven to 10 shots a day. And there's always the
unexpected. "I just got a report of a group of
anglers aboard a 61-foot boat out of Mujeres who
caught and released 120 sailfish in a day, and I
guess they ran out of bait."
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Cozumel, Cozumel Island,
Mexico
Sailfish gather to feed each spring and summer
in the channel that separates this Caribbean island
from Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula. Twenty shots a day
are a definite possibility. Beware the rugged seas.
But they also can improve the odds. "There are
a lot of areas where the best sailfishing comes
during rougher weather."
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Iztapa, Guatemala
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Nossi Be, Madagascar
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Pinas Bay, Panama
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Flamingo and Quepos, Costa
Rica
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East Cape, Baja
California, Mexico
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Florida Keys, USA
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Bombom, Príncipe Island
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Ixtapa and Zihuatanejo,
Mexico
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