Also known as
- Broadbill US
- Broadbill Swordfish US
Identification
A massive worldwide bluewater apex with a deep robust hydrodynamic build engineered for sustained vertical hunts and explosive deep runs. Among the most demanding fights in sportfishing. Females grow substantially larger than males.
- Extremely long, flat, sword-like bill — up to one-third of total body length
- Massive crescent tail and stiff, sickle-shaped first dorsal fin
- Adults lack scales and pelvic fins entirely — juveniles retain both
- Very large eyes adapted for hunting in deep, low-light water
- Brown-black to bluish-black on top, dirty-white on belly
Where it holds
- Offshore
- Oceanic
Behaviour
A worldwide bluewater apex with extraordinary vertical range — daytime hunts at 200-800m on deep cephalopods and mid-water baitfish, then ascending to 0-100m at night following prey vertical migrations. Specialised brain and eye heaters allow sustained hunting in cold deep water. Mostly solitary; uses the bill as a weapon to slash through bait schools. Highly migratory across ocean basins, tracking thermal fronts and productive canyon and seamount edges. Peak activity 18-22°C (64-72°F).
Diet: Squid, Snake Mackerel, Lanternfish, Small Mahi Mahi, Small Tuna, Hake, Mackerel
How it's caught
Line Fishing
Bottom Fishing
The dominant modern approach — the daytime deep-drop revolution. Drop a whole rigged squid, mackerel, or bonito to 300-700m over canyons, seamounts, and current edges using 1.5-4kg of lead and a teaser strobe stack of LED chemical lights at multiple depths. Electric reels are essential. 37-60kg gear with 12/0-14/0 non-offset circle hooks. Patient soak; subtle rod-tip taps signal the bite.
Chunking
The traditional night drift approach — particularly Florida Straits, Bahamas, and the Mediterranean. Establish a chum slick of cut squid and fish over deep water, then deploy whole-squid baits at 30-100m with chemical lights for attraction. Drift through the slick on prevailing current. 37-60kg gear with 12/0-14/0 non-offset circle hooks. Be ready for prolonged deep runs.
Live Lining
A productive night specialist when quality live bait is available. Slow-troll or drift a large live squid, mackerel, or skipjack at 50-200m using downriggers or heavy weights, with a chemical light rigged near the bait. 37-60kg gear with 12/0-14/0 non-offset circle hooks. Less common than deep-drop or chunking but devastating when conditions align.
Trolling
An opportunistic dawn and dusk approach in regions with surface-active fish. Pull a spread of large rigged ballyhoo, rigged mackerel, or x-large skirted lures over deep canyon edges at 4-7 knots. Specialised daytime trolling with deep-set downriggers (100-200m) has gained traction in some fisheries. Most catches are incidental to marlin and tuna trolling.
Spear Fishing
Bluewater Spearfishing
An extremely rare elite-tier bluewater target — opportunities are vanishingly small as fish spend daylight hours at 300-800m. Mediterranean spearos record most documented encounters during calm dawn and dusk surface windows. Use a 150-160cm bluewater speargun with 9.0mm shaft, slip-tip, breakaway rig, and 100L+ float system. Body shots behind the gills only.
