Species Education

Swordfish

Swordfish are found globally due to their ability to withstand ocean temperatures from tropical to almost freezing. As a result, they have a much less streamlined appearance than other billfish.

Scientific Name

  • Xiphias Gladius
Photo Provided by: Samuel Urbain

Max Size

4.3 m and 545 kg (14 ft and 1,200 lb)

CONSERVATION

Status: Near Threatened

Top Speed

80.5 kph (50 mph)

Habitat

Found in all oceans

Behavior

Typically live far below the ocean’s surface

Diet

Squid and small fish

Lifespan

16 years for females and 12 for males

Species Education

What are Swordfish?

Swordfish are the sole member of the family Xiphias. While they share the same prominent rostrum as other billfish, their bill is much larger in size compared to the size of their body, and much flatter. They are stocky fish with round bodies and large eyes, as well as a crescent shaped dorsal fin and no scales. Swordfish spend most of their time thousands of feet deep at the bottom of the ocean, coming to the surface at night to hunt. Swordfish have the unique ability to live thousands of feet below the surface. No other billfish display this behavior, nor have the capability to do so. Special organs in their bodies allow swordfish to direct their internal heat towards their brain and eyes, allowing them to see in pitch black and near freezing conditions.
Randy Bradley

Species Education

Questions about Swordfish

Samuel Urbain

How big do Swordfish get?

Swordfish can grow to massive sizes. The largest swordfish ever caught was almost 544.3 kg (1,200 lb) and 4.2 m (14 ft) long. However, anglers tend to catch these fish between 113.4 and 226.8 kg (250 and 500 lb), at about 1.8 to 2.7 m (6 to 9 ft) in length. There is no standard length to weight ratio seen in other billfish, swordfish can be extremely long and thin or smaller and very heavy.
Samuel Urbain

Can you fish for Swordfish?

Yes! Swordfish are a commonly targeted species, both recreationally and commercially. Swordfish can be caught using deep-dropping methods during the day when they’re on the seafloor, or they can be caught near the surface at night. Of all billfish, they are the most commercially caught and eaten.
Samuel Urbain

Where do Swordfish live?

Swordfish can be found all over the world. They are not native to one ocean and are extremely adaptable, allowing them to live in tropical waters as well as near-freezing conditions. They tend to inhabit extremely deep waters, usually in areas that are about 600 m (2,000 ft) deep. At night, they migrate to the surface to feed, returning to the depths when the sun comes up.
Samuel Urbain

What do Swordfish eat?

Swordfish love to target squid and octopus for their meals, but will gladly eat smaller fish like mackerel, small tunas, and anchovies near the surface. They will also eat seafloor creatures like crustaceans. Like other pelagic species, swordfish are opportunistic eaters, targeting any organism small enough to fit in its mouth.
Samuel Urbain

How do Swordfish hunt?

Swordfish use their rostrums to swipe at their prey, stunning them in the process. This is characteristic of all billfish species and the main use for their bill. Additionally, they have unusually large eyeballs that give them excellent night vision, allowing them to spot prey in almost pitch-black conditions. Since they live most of their lives on the seafloor, they are thought to use their bills to dig into the mud to stir up prey.
Samuel Urbain

How long do Swordfish live for?

Swordfish, on average, live to about nine or 10 years old. The maximum life expectancy is 16 years for females and 12 years for males, though this age is not commonly reached. Female swordfish tend to live longer than males, yet all swordfish reach maturity at about four or five years old.
Randy Bradley

How do Swordfish reproduce?

Swordfish reproduce by broadcast spawning, a process where the females release thousands of eggs into the water, where they are externally fertilized by males. In warm waters, swordfish can spawn year round. In cooler climates, they tend to spawn in only the summer months. It is believed that male swordfish have a courtship ritual to attract females, indicating mating pairs are chosen intentionally.

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