Like their billfish cousins, the marlin and swordfish, the sailfish is both beautiful and deadly. Its large dorsal fin stretches all the way down its back and can be a number of different colours. Its other striking feature is of course its impressive bill, which is used for hunting. One of the largest sailfish ever landed by a fisherman clocked in at just shy of three metres long and weighed over 100kg. And its in the fishing industry that these giants of the ocean pose the biggest threat to humans. A sailfish swimming in the ocean would be unlikely to attack a human who happened to be paddling nearby. Furthermore, the two would probably not encounter each other anyway, since most billfish species prefer much deeper waters. However, should a sailfish be hooked by a fisherman, things can get a lot dicier. Being equipped with a fearsome bill is one thing but these fish are also some of the fastest predators in the sea, reaching speeds of nearly 70 mph. Any person strong enough to reel in such a powerful fish runs the risk of being impaled should it leap out of the water into the confines of the boat. Tragically, this has been known to happen many times, with dozens of fatalities. World's deadliest nose.
Peter Austin initially joined WhatCulture as an occasional contributor to our Film, Gaming and Science sections, but made the mistake of telling us that he'd been making videos in his bedroom for over a decade. Since then he's been a vital member of our YouTube team and routinely sets the standard for smart-casual wear in the office.
