SAILFISH SPORTS FISHING OFF RIO DE JANEIRO STATE, BRAZIL (2002-2008)

sports fishing tournaments that gather anglers from several clubs. The tournaments occur from October to February, in the daylight savings time (one hour ahead of standard time), ranging from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. converted to standard time. Data of 1,950 sailfish, Istiophorus platypterus, caught in those tournaments during 2002/08 seasons were analyzed. The monthly CPUE values ranged from 0.05 to 3.47 fish per boat per day, and the highest values were always observed in December or January. The analysis based on time of the capture of 1,410 sailfish caught from 2002/03 to 2005/06 seasons showed the highest sailfish catches from 8:00 to 10:00 a.m., presenting a decreasing trend until the end of the fishing day. From the 90 s ́ on, ICRJ anglers began to release most of the sailfish, bringing just the largest specimens, which could be records. In order to release the billfish they brought observers on board, that are usually biology students, biologists and professions alike. Sport fishing contributes with research, aiming at the release of billfish, and also helping the observers for their education, as a complementary field of biological studies