Saltwater · Offshore year-round in the south; peak late summer and fall
Swordfish
Xiphias gladius
The gladiator of the deep — swordfish hunt squid along canyon edges by day in water more than a thousand feet deep and rise at night. Daytime deep-dropping off Florida turned this once-rare catch into a specialist trophy fishery.
Seasons · Peak
Identifying features
- A long, flat, sword-like bill — flattened top to bottom, unlike the round bill of marlin
- Adults have no scales and no teeth; the body is smooth, dark bronze to purplish-black above
- Tall, sickle-shaped first dorsal fin and a large crescent tail with a single strong keel
- Large eyes built for hunting squid in deep, dim water
- Look-alike: blue marlin carry a round, spear-like bill, a long bill-to-tail lateral line and a much taller, foldable dorsal fin
Habits
- Spends the day in 1,200-2,000 ft of water along canyon edges, rising toward the surface at night
- Feeds mainly on squid and deep-water fish, slashing prey with the sword
- Follows temperature breaks and canyon walls where squid concentrate
- Often slaps or whacks a bait repeatedly before eating it — patience on the bite is essential
Distribution
Where to find them
- The canyon edges off southeast Florida — the daytime swordfish grounds in 1,400-1,800 ft
- Continental shelf breaks and canyons off the mid-Atlantic and New England
- Deep Gulf structure off Louisiana and Texas along the shelf edge
- Offshore banks off southern California and Hawaii in summer and fall
Where they live
How to catch them
Daytime deep-dropping
Rig: Electric or heavy manual reel, 10-15 lb breakaway weight, long leader, deep-drop light
Bait/lure: Large rigged squid or bonito belly strip
Key tip: Keep the bait within a few feet of bottom on the canyon wall and watch the rod tip for the soft sword slap before the eat.
Night drifting
Rig: Buoyed lines set at several depths, light sticks, large circle hooks
Bait/lure: Whole squid or mackerel
Key tip: Spread baits from near the surface to 300 ft and drift the temperature break. Swordfish feed up the column after dark.
Best baits & lures
Baseline setup
- Rod: 5 ft 6 in-6 ft deep-drop rod, extra-heavy bent-butt
- Line: 80 lb braid
- Terminal: Breakaway weights, deep-drop lights, 300 lb leaders, 9/0-11/0 circle hooks
Recommended gear for this species
Rod · Best value
9' 5-weight fly rod outfit
≈ US$180-260
Covers chironomid lakes and small rivers with one setup.
Flies · Budget
Chironomid assortment (30 patterns)
≈ US$25-40
Chironomids are 60% of a lake rainbow's diet in spring.
Picks come from our rule library — never paid placements. Prices are guides; affiliate links may earn us a commission.
Typical size
Common 50-150 lb; large specimens 300 lb and up
On the table
Excellent — dense, meaty steaks, superb grilled; among the most popular food fish in restaurants.
Similar species
Regulations vary by area and can change in-season — always check the official rules for your area before you fish. Regulations guide →
Plan a trip for Swordfish
Build today's plan