The Fishing Report
Fishing seasons & conditions by region
Swordfish Xiphias gladius
Swordfish Size, Range & Diet
| Typical size | 50–200 lb |
|---|---|
| Maximum | up to 15 ft and about 1,165 lb |
| Lifespan | about 9 years |
| Range | Worldwide in tropical and temperate seas; US anglers find them along the Gulf Stream off south Florida and the Bahamas, in the Gulf of Mexico, and over the deep banks and canyons off Southern California. |
| Habitat | Deep blue water, holding several hundred to over 1,500 ft down by day along canyons, banks and temperature breaks and rising toward the surface at night. |
| Diet | Squid and schooling fish like mackerel, hake and herring, stunned with slashes of the bill — squid and belly strips are the usual deep-drop baits. |
Sizes are typical rod-and-reel and documented maximum figures, not size limits — see the regulations links below for the rules where you fish.
How to Identify a Swordfish
- Long, wide, flattened (sword-like) bill — over a third of body length
- No pelvic fins; adults are scaleless
- Tall, rigid, crescent first dorsal; very large eye
- Dark brown-purple to black back; no body bars or spots
- A single large keel on each side of the tail base
Tell it apart: The flat, broad sword (vs. the round spear of marlin and sailfish) plus the total absence of pelvic fins makes swordfish unmistakable among billfish.
Easily confused with: Blue Marlin, Sailfish
Side by side: Swordfish vs Marlin, Swordfish vs Sailfish
How to Catch Swordfish
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- Targeted year-round; daytime deep-drop squid baits 1500-1800 ft with weighted rigs, or drift baits at night near the surface.GearDeep-drop swordfish rigSquid baitsElectric reel combo
- A deep-drop fishery best June through August — drop a weighted squid bait to 1200-1800 feet by day, or work surface baits on warm summer nights.GearDeep-drop swordfish rigStrobe + glow lightsElectric deep-drop combo
When & Where Swordfish Are in Season
Peak Good Fair Slow
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Florida & the Keys Offshore | ||||||||||||
| Southern California Offshore |
Swordfish Regulations
Always check local regulations — seasons, size, and bag limits vary by state and species, and change year to year. When in doubt, release.