Favorite Fighters of the Fisherman

There are two main reasons that fisherman fish: for sport and for food. While commercial fisheries bring in tons of fish every day for mass consumption, the term "fisherman" typically conjures up images of a lone man on the river, flicking his lure across the water -- probably there for a combination of sport and food, keeping and later eating what he catches -- or a group of friends out on the ocean catching and releasing large fish that like to fight.

It's the sport fisherman that we will cover today. These are among their favorite sea farers that they enjoy fighting with.

Peacock Bass

In some areas, the peacock bass (which isn't a bass at all) is considered a danger to the local ecology. However, this aggressive fish -- which can grow to over three feet long -- is, as renowned peacock bass fisherman Larry Larsen states, a bully. Its aggressive nature makes it a strong fighter. Fighting the peacock bass has become so popular that some travel agencies plan trips entirely around it, sending travelers to its native Brazil as well as Florida where it was deliberately introduced in 1984.

Anything worth fighting that hard for ought to be worthwhile, and the peacock bass is no exception. It is also prized for its low-oil, sweet tasting white flesh. But to protect their numbers, Florida strictly enforces limitations on the number you are allowed to keep.

Swordfish

Growing up to nearly 15 feet long and reaching a weight of up to 1,400 pounds, it's easy to imagine the difficulty in reeling in one of these prized specimens. But it's their elusive nature, making difficult to even find, that makes them that much more of a prize.

In fact, though they grow up to 1,400 pounds, one of that size has never been caught. The record-holding swordfish catch was reeled in off the coast of Chile during 1953, weighing in at 1,182 pounds. This amazing force of nature is capable of swimming at speeds of up to 50 miles per hour. With powerful muscles like that, hauling in a swordfish makes it one of the most difficult catches a fisherman can take on.

Sailfish

Looking very similar to the swordfish, the sailfish sports a tall dorsal fin that often runs the length of its entire back. This "sail" is what gives it its name and also makes it one of the most recognizable game fish. It is slightly smaller than its cousin -- growing to about 10 feet in length and weighing in at around 200 pounds -- but similarly powerful to the swordfish, having been clocked at up to 68 miles per hour, making it the fastest recorded fish in the world.