Flying Fish

well as they've got no lungs it would be tricky, wouldn't it? I'm interested to know, however, whether they contribute to their filght by flapping their fins or whether they are pure gliders. Theory suggests the latter, as there is no muscle in their lateral fins, but I often watch them and their trajectories are way too long and low to be pure glides.

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They tend to head off into the wind when possible and I've often noticed them relaunch off the top of waves, quick flip of the tail. They seem to steer their flight more with their body than the wings as a bird does. Caught a few at night under lights when catching bait. Very popular as Marlin baits.


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Interesting question. They can't hold their breath because they don't have any breath. There is limited oxygen exchange via their gills, but they do the opposite of us when we swim. They don't use ground effect because that pulls you down-helps cornering; the oposite in fact. They use wave effect which gives a little lift, same as albatrosses and many other sea birds as they skim the water surface. They glide, deriving the necessary drive from their tails before they leave the water. So you were all more or less right!


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Ground effect is the same as wave effect in this context (There is indeed another definition of ground effect which is the down force exerted in racing cars, but ground effect in the context of this thread is correct) In this case, ground effect is a pressure build up between the wings and the water or ground surface. A cushion is created by the aerodynamic interaction between the wing and the surface of the ground or water.

These fish don't actually "fly" but rather "glide" through the air; they will swim
very fast near the surface of the water, and if a predator is near, they will reach
speeds of 15-20 mph and then break the surface of the water. They briefly stay at
the surface, using their tail to work up even more speed-beating it in the water up
to 50 times in one second!! They then accelerate to approximately 40 miles per hour, before rising into the air, gliding on their large wing-like pectoral fins. 100 m flights have been observed

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awright smartiepants! What about flying pink elephants?? Eh? Dont say they dont exist! I`ve seen em! After a really heavy night on the cider! How do they do it?

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Pink Floyd! Battersea Powerstation. Helium balloons. Oh no those were pigs!

Alternative explanation - you were pissed! /forums/images/icons/laugh.gif

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Flying pigs is common as muck! Seen em all over the place, but pink hefelumps is a different kettle of makerel!

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Re: what do they taste like?

Flying fish is a very nice fish to eat, but you have to know how to bone them, they are almost a national dish here, you bone them, place in lime and salt for a few minutes ,rinse , dry ,dip in egg then in bread crumbs and fry ,making sure to place them in the pan with the backs up first for a few minutes, then turn.then all you have to do is lick your chops and eat them.

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Far more knowlegable than me then. Only seen pink hefalumps flying when I was a kid. Tho I thought the real hefalumps in the latest Lord of the Rings film were a big bonus!!!

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Re: what do they taste like?

Don't know. I never had the chance to taste them. Deckhands used to grab them and store them carefully on ice, they had a cash outlet for them.

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Thanks all, you have considerably broadened my understanding on all things flying especially fish.

It's astonishing how long flying fish remain airborne, they are fascinating to watch.

I was once hit square in the chest by one whilst driving a RIB offshore Sarawak and had a bruise for a week. The fish didn't fare too well either.

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No!

Specially the ones you find dried up on the deck each morning in the trades. They don't even make very effective bait.

But flying fish are sold as a delicacy in some S. American countries. They are welcome to them!
 
Re: what do they taste like?

Top and tail, gut, marinate in lemon and herbs, fry quickly in butter. All the better for being free and wild. Delicious.

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