Species › Mediterranean › Swordfish

Saltwater

Swordfish

Xiphias gladius · broadbill, pesce spada, pez espada

Water temp
63–75°F
Peak season
Jun–Sep
Best light
Night
IGFA record
1,182 lb (536.15 kg)
Swordfish (Espadon (Xiphias gladius) (Ifremer 00764-87622).jpg)

Photo: Hugues Evano (IFREMER, Délégation océan Indien (DOI), Département Ressources Bio · CC BY 4.0 · via Wikimedia Commons

OverviewWhere & WhenHow to CatchGearRegulationsRecordsForecastCatches

Overview

Swordfish are unmistakable: a long flat bill, a tall sickle dorsal fin, no scales or teeth as adults and huge eyes for hunting in the dark depths. They are found worldwide, and the Mediterranean holds a distinct, heavily fished stock centered on the Strait of Messina, the Ionian and Tyrrhenian seas, the Balearics and the Levant. By day they feed on squid and fish 1,000–2,000 ft down, rising toward the surface at night. Mediterranean fish are mostly 40–150 lb (18–68 kg), smaller than Pacific giants, but they fight with the same violent runs and jumps.

Typical size40–120 lb (18–54 kg); 5–7 ft including bill
Trophy250 lb+ in the Mediterranean; 400 lb+ is exceptional
Table fareExcellent — firm steaks; recreational retention is tightly limited

Where & when

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Mediterranean swordfish are targeted mainly June–October when they move into the upper layers at night; a recreational closed season applies in parts of the year under ICCAT rules.

Strait of Messina, ItalyHistoric swordfish grounds between Sicily and CalabriaBalearic Sea off Mallorca, SpainDeep water close to shore; night drifting and deep-droppingIonian Sea off Zakynthos, GreeceSteep drop-offs; growing recreational broadbill fishery

How to catch

Night driftingAfter dark, drift over 1,500–3,000 ft of water with whole squid or mackerel staggered at 50, 150 and 300 ft under light-stick-lit lines and balloon floats. Keep the drag light until the fish has eaten, then come tight gradually; swordfish mouths are soft.
Daytime deep-droppingSend a rigged squid or bonito belly with 6–10 lb of breakaway weight down 1,200–1,800 ft on an electric or heavy conventional outfit and work it with slow lifts along the thermocline. Watch the tip for soft taps and wind steadily when it loads up.

Gear

Rod5½–6' 50–80 lb-class stand-up rod
Reel50–80 lb-class lever-drag conventional, often electric-assisted for deep-dropping
Line80 lb braid or mono mainline; 200–300 lb mono wind-on leader

Lures

lighted squid skirtsglow-in-the-dark deep-drop lureslarge swimming plugs (rarely)

Baits

whole squidmackerelbonito or little tunny belly stripsrigged ballyhoo-style baits

Regulations

Mediterranean swordfish are managed by ICCAT with national licenses, a minimum size, a per-boat recreational retention limit and seasonal closures; tagging or declaration of landed fish may be mandatory. Rules differ by country and change yearly, so check the national fisheries authority before you go.

Records

IGFA all-tackle world record: 1,182 lb (536.15 kg) — Iquique, Chile, 1953 (Louis Marron). State and regional records are kept by each fish & wildlife agency.

Frequently asked

Can you fish for swordfish recreationally in the Mediterranean?

Yes, but under strict rules. Mediterranean swordfish are a managed ICCAT stock, so recreational anglers typically need a national big-game license, may keep only a very limited number of fish above a minimum size, and face closed seasons that vary by country. Many charter operations now tag and release, and the growing daytime deep-drop fishery has made the species far more catchable than it was a decade ago.

Bite forecast — Swordfish

Recent catches

Posted by anglers on the live map, filtered to Swordfish.

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