Anglers have known for some time that that broadbill swordfish do in fact use their bills to help them secure a meal. For example, Southern California anglers have watched firsthand as swordfish cut their mackerel in half with a quick flip of the bill.
While sailfish are best known for their above water antics, Guy Harvey also depicts them below the water
Marlin and sailfish, however, were a different story. There had long been a debate as to whether or not marlin and sailfish actually used their bills to stun and then eat a bait, or did they simply use their bills as a balancing mechanism to assist in their swimming motion?
When a marlin or sailfish rises in the spread and attempts to eat the trolled lure or rigged bait, the bill moves violently in that effort. Some have thought that the fish were attempting to hit the bait with their bill while others have speculated that the bill played no part in the effort and simply followed the movements and direction of the fish’s excited and hungry mouth. Even slow motion video of surface feeding billfish could not conclude this long standing debate.
Feeding sailfish as witnessed firsthand by Guy Harvey
This long standing debate ended during an underwater filming expedition where I was able to not only witness firsthand, but also film on different occasions both marlin and sailfish using their bill’s to stun and catch meal. It was a real thrill to witness off of Isla Mujeres using their extended dorsal fins to corral the bait into a tight school. It was an even bigger thrill to then watch the sailfish make a distinct motion with their bill to hit and stun the sardines and then circle back to eat them as they sank away from the school.
The ocean is full of exciting scenes such as the one described above. I feel so fortunate to have been able to witness firsthand so many awesome moments underwater, and even more fortunate be able to make my living bringing those scenes to you through both art and film. My painting Two Sails was created by taking what I witnessed firsthand, putting that to canvas, and then on to fishing t-shirts and other items.
Billfish Feeding from Guy Harvey Sportswear on Vimeo.
Related posts:
- Small Lures For Billfish
- Guy Harvey on “The Atlantic Sailfish”
- Famed Angler Stewart Campbell Pulled Overboard by Marlin
- Guy Harvey’s Marlin a Month | February 2010
- Intro to Guy Harvey’s Marlin a Month Series
Tags: Artwork, Big Game Fishing, Billfish, Guy Harvey
I would like to welcome you to the Guy Harvey Sportswear web site. Here we will feature my blog where I will report on expeditions, adventures, and various marine conservation efforts. We will also include various guest bloggers, videos and photos that I believe you will find interesting, whether you are a serious fishing or diving enthusiast, or simply someone who cares about the marine resource, loves living the coastal lifestyle, or just wants to learn more about Guy Harvey sportswear.
