With no real commercial market for sailfish, it's a species which represents sport and recreational fishing fervor. As very few sailfish are intentionally brought back to the dock, sports fishers employee circle hooks which minimize potential damage to fish before safely releasing.
Found in temperate to tropical waters across the globe one method of "kite fishing" for trophy species is popular in Florida and Gulf Waters. By dangling a bait fish for vertically off the kite line, the bait becomes much more enticing to passing sailfish.