Are Sailfish Good to Eat?

If you've caught one, then you probably want to know can you eat sailfish, so you know if it's worth keeping. The short answer is that sailfish are edible, but you have to have a special permit to pull one from federal waters.

Why does no one eat sailfish?

In the United States, federal regulation is catch and release only. This rule makes eating one a little tricky unless you have a special permit. Outside of the states, it is still commonplace to eat sailfish. The high volume of commercial fishing is why this species is dwindling in parts of the world.

Are you allowed to keep sailfish?

In the event you wish to keep a sailfish, you must possess a Highly Migratory Species (HMS) vessel permit and report your landings at (800) 894-5528. ... Size limit for sailfish is 63 inches, measured from lower jaw to the fork of the tail. Florida daily bag limit for all billfish is one per person.