Flying Fish

The flying fish itself—a creature of the genus Exocoetus and related taxa—was no hero in the traditional sense, but rather a subject of wonder and practical utility to pirate crews and merchant sailors alike. Unlike the legendary corsairs who dominated these waters, the flying fish was a humble provider: its flesh sustained hungry men, its behavior signaled weather and depth, and its sudden emergence from the waves offered a moment of natural drama in the monotony of ocean travel. For men like Bartholomew Roberts's crews or the privateers of the Caribbean, the flying fish represented the ocean's abundance and unpredictability.

The flying fish's locomotion was a marvel of biomechanics that 17th-century naturalists struggled to explain. The creature accelerated underwater to 35–40 mph by beating its tail rapidly, then burst through the surface with pectoral fins extended like membranous wings. These fins, composed of elongated fin rays connected by thin skin, generated lift through rapid vibration and angled positioning. Some species possessed enlarged pelvic fins as well, increasing surface area and stability during flight. The fish did not truly fly—it glided on momentum and fin-generated lift—but the effect was so dramatic that early accounts often exaggerated the phenomenon. Contemporary observers aboard merchant and pirate vessels noted that flying fish seemed to 'fly' in formation, leaping in sequence as they fled predators, creating the illusion of coordinated aerial maneuvers.

Flying fish inhabited the warm waters where European privateers, pirates, and merchant sailors conducted their operations between 1650 and 1725. They were not unique to the Golden Age—ancient Greek naturalists had documented them—but they became a fixture of Atlantic and Caribbean maritime experience during this period of intensive European naval activity. Ship logs, journals, and published accounts from the era record frequent sightings, particularly in the waters between the Azores, the Caribbean, and the African coast. The creature featured in natural histories published during the period, including those by naturalists who interviewed returning sailors. Unlike the romanticized corsairs of later legend, flying fish were a genuine, daily phenomenon that crews encountered, observed, and occasionally consumed. Their presence in ship records and personal journals offers historians a window into the lived experience of maritime life during the Golden Age.

Flying fish evolved their remarkable aerial capability as a predator-evasion strategy. In open ocean waters populated by faster, larger predators—tuna, mackerel, dolphinfish, and sharks—the ability to leave the water environment offered a survival advantage. Airborne, flying fish faced different predators (seabirds, primarily), but the brief flight often allowed them to escape pursuit or gain distance from underwater hunters. The behavior also facilitated feeding opportunities: leaping into schools of smaller prey or accessing food sources in the upper water column. From an evolutionary perspective, the flying fish's existence reflected the intense predator-prey dynamics of tropical and subtropical ocean ecosystems. For Golden Age sailors, the fish's existence was simply part of the natural order they encountered; they did not question why it flew, only that it did—and whether it was edible.

Flying fish provided practical sustenance to pirate and merchant crews. When caught—either by hand as they landed on deck, by net, or by line—they were cleaned, cooked, and eaten. Contemporary accounts describe them as palatable, if small; a single fish provided only a few mouthfuls of flesh. Crews valued them most during long voyages when fresh provisions were scarce and salt pork or hardtack dominated the diet. The sudden appearance of flying fish also served navigational and meteorological purposes: their presence indicated proximity to certain currents and water temperatures, and their behavior—increased frequency of flight—sometimes preceded storms or changes in weather. Sailors observed that flying fish were more active at dawn and dusk, and their leaps offered a moment of visual interest during the tedium of ocean passage. Some crews kept flying fish in barrels of seawater as a living larder, though the practice was difficult and rarely successful.

No crew member held a specific role related to flying fish, but all hands participated in their capture when opportunity arose. Young sailors and ship's boys were often tasked with retrieving flying fish that landed on deck—a task requiring speed and agility. The ship's cook would prepare them for consumption, typically by frying or boiling. The ship's naturalist or educated officers—men like the surgeons or mates who kept journals—recorded observations about flying fish behavior, appearance, and frequency. Captains noted their presence in logs as indicators of location and conditions. Enslaved or impressed crew members, who often performed the most dangerous and menial tasks, would have been involved in fishing for flying fish using nets or lines. Unlike the dramatic roles assigned to pirates in popular imagination, the flying fish was a creature that engaged the entire crew in small, practical ways.

Flying fish were not constructed or built; they were organisms with evolved anatomical structures. However, understanding their 'construction' was of interest to educated sailors and naturalists of the period. The pectoral fins were supported by a skeletal framework of elongated fin rays (typically 13–14 rays per side), connected by thin, translucent skin rich in blood vessels. The body itself was streamlined, with a fusiform (torpedo-like) shape that minimized drag. The scales were arranged in overlapping rows, creating a smooth surface. The musculature was highly developed, particularly in the tail and anterior body, enabling the rapid acceleration required for takeoff. The skeletal structure was relatively light, with thin bones adapted for speed rather than strength. Internally, flying fish possessed a swim bladder that provided buoyancy control, allowing them to hover at specific depths before executing their escape leaps. Early naturalists who dissected specimens noted these features with fascination, though they lacked modern anatomical terminology.

Multiple species of flying fish inhabited Golden Age waters, though contemporary sailors rarely distinguished between them with scientific precision. Exocoetus volitans (the Atlantic flying fish) was the most commonly encountered in European and Caribbean waters. Cypselurus species, with enlarged pelvic fins, were also present. Some accounts describe 'four-winged' flying fish (species with both pectoral and pelvic fins enlarged), while others mention 'two-winged' varieties. Regional variations in size, coloration, and flight behavior were noted by observant sailors, though these were attributed to local conditions rather than species differences. Seasonal variations also occurred: flying fish were more abundant during warmer months and in specific currents. Some naturalists speculated that flying fish might vary by latitude or proximity to land, though systematic documentation was lacking. The lack of precise taxonomic knowledge during the period meant that all flying fish were often grouped under generic terms like 'flying fish' or 'winged fish,' with variations attributed to age, sex, or local conditions rather than species distinction.

No individual flying fish achieved fame, but certain sightings were recorded in notable ship logs. Captain William Dampier, the privateer and naturalist, documented flying fish in his 'New Voyage Round the World' (1697), providing detailed observations of their behavior and flight characteristics. His account was widely read and influenced subsequent understanding of the creature. Bartholomew Roberts's crew logs (c.1718–1722) mention flying fish as a food source, though without the naturalistic detail Dampier provided. The logbooks of various East India Company vessels record flying fish sightings as routine occurrences, with some captains noting their correlation with specific latitudes and currents. No single flying fish specimen was preserved or became historically significant in the way that artifacts or weapons did; instead, the species itself—as a collective phenomenon—became a marker of tropical maritime experience.

Flying fish remains are not typically recovered in archaeological contexts related to the Golden Age of Piracy. Unlike shipwrecks, weapons, or artifacts of human manufacture, organic remains of fish are rarely preserved in the archaeological record. However, ichthyological remains (fish bones, scales, otoliths) recovered from shipwrecks or coastal settlements may include flying fish specimens, though identification is difficult without expert analysis. The wreck of the 'Queen Anne's Revenge' (Blackbeard's flagship, wrecked 1718) has yielded faunal remains that may include fish species, though detailed analysis is ongoing. Coprolites (fossilized feces) from shipwrecks occasionally contain fish scales and bones, potentially including flying fish. Zooarchaeological studies of Golden Age pirate and merchant sites are limited, but future analysis of faunal assemblages may provide evidence of flying fish consumption. Most evidence for flying fish presence during the era remains textual—in ship logs, journals, and published accounts—rather than material.