Bait does not need to be large for sails. Place the hook under the dorsal fin of the herring, and fish it under a kite rig or from a flatline in a rod holder. In the long run, you ll hook more sails on monofilament leaders. Look for sailfish along the deep edges of offshore dropoffs, out approximately a quarter mile from these areas. At times they will also cruise along a weed line, feeding on smaller fish, or you may find them lurking under floating debris.
Sails are fussy feeders, and usually require the bait to be dropped back when they strike.
This means that when the sail hits the bait, the bait should drop dead in the water, as if stunned by the blow of the sailfish s bill. The fish then grabs the bait, runs with it, and swallows it. During this time, the angler should be free spooling the reel, that is, letting line run out smoothly. After a count of five to 10 seconds, the reel can be put in gear and the hook set. Sailfish are delicate, and should not be brought aboard before they are released.