No one has ever forgotten the sight of his or her first sailfish with its magnificent blue and silver body and the fan of its giant dorsal fin flashing in the light. These animals are so magnificent it is hard to believe there can be more than one of them on earth, but they are found throughout the tropical and semi-tropical waters of all oceans. Sailfish are very popular with sport fishermen. In the United States, sailfish are not taken commercially except as incidental catch in Pacific longline and gillnet fisheries. Possession is prohibited for U.S. commercial vessels fishing in the Atlantic. Pacific sailfish are generally larger than their Atlantic cousins. The International Game Fish Association world record for Pacific sailfish of 221 pounds was set in 1947; the record for Atlantic sailfish of 128 pounds was set in 1974.