I've only seen them a few handful of times in the years I fished the gulf. They'd get up and start flying parallel, and usually off the front starboard side of my boat. I thought they were flying to get away from the boat, but I think something else was after them. Jokers fly fairly fast too. And never seen just one, always at least 6+ in a group. The most I've seen was around 12 at a time out of the water, and once they'd hit the water, they'd fly right back out, repeating several times.

 

I've seen thousands 30+miles offshore over the years. They usually stay farther offshore when you see them closer in numbers it's a pretty good sign your getting some of that cleaner offshore water pushing in. I know those rough days running into the wind when they can catch the headwind? It blows my mind how far the can glide. Me and my daughter were walking the beach Saturday and saw one about 5 inches long cruising about 2 foot of the sand. I'm sure it was damaged and lost.

 

Yea, they're real majestic when they fly out of the water and head butt you in the junk.

 

Have had one hit me in the head.

I see em all the time

 

Found them on deck of a Destroyer.

 

We used to shoot them with a Remington 870 20 ga. Off the bow when I used to fish Marlin tournaments. Ton of fun. Always depended on the sea state.

 

Well I guess I'm not the only simi outlaw on here. You have to make Sure the shark stick is always in working order!?LOL! I always kept a 20 gauge in the boat. Even with a slug a 20 gauge is manageable with one hand. A 12 can get a little bucky one handed.

 

I heard they were an aphrodisiac, down in the islands and Mexico

 

Tried several times to shot them with a 22 pistol. Probably was 2-3 for every 2-3 hundred rounds. Not a good percentage at all was still fun. Had a much better average on squirrels and rabbits with the pistol.

 

I saw about 8-10 this past Saturday make about a 30-40 degree turn mid air. I don’t think that was gliding. It looked very deliberate..

 

Their tail is the prop once they launch they are a glider. All Man Made Gliders have controls? What's wild is a fish has the situational awareness to decide. I have to leave the water to avoid predation then control pectoral fins to control a get away with eyeballs and a lateral line that work in conjunction in and out of the water to escape? I have always been impressed with critters like flyers. Evolution is wild.

 

IMO, Mullet are descendants of flying fish, as they jump for no apparent reason, but still carry the trait to do so. look close, as they look the same, minus the bird like wings.
Years ago, I did a survey, asking random people, "why do mullet jump"? I collected about 30 answers and sent them to the PNJ, which they printed. The reporter was Mark Obrien. Some of the responses weren't printable.
Shipoke

 

Crotch rocket