Photos of Swordfish - pg 1 of 3 swordfish image by Ron Pittard
Below, a 484-lb. swordfish caught by sport fishermen near the island of Faial in the Azores - the top big game fishing destination in the Atlantic. Since they are not only beligerant but also have soft mouths, landing one is doubly difficult.� According to Marlin Magazine (1997), "To be among the few who've landed a broadbill on rod and reel is indeed a badge of honor."� For more, see Shanghai Charters website.�� (Photo, G. Wouters)
Pictured below is the primary target of the world's commercial longline fleets - large female swordfish - these weighing about 600 lbs.�� Industrial-scale commercial fleets take 99.99% of the swordfish caught worldwide.� However, in the judgment of many, swordfish are the world's premiere game fish because of their strength, stamina and ferocity.� If they live long enough, they can grow to at least 2,200 lbs., but the average north Atlantic swordfish landed by commercial vessels now weighs just 88 lbs.� (Photo, M. Alain)
photo of two swordfish weighing about 600 lbs being butchered by longline crew - Indian Ocean
photo of swordfish from the Azores - 484 lbs
photo of swordfish - about 150 lbs - Azores
Above, Australian Captain Hatch after landing one of his first Azorean swords.� This one looks to be about 150 lbs. - the size at which females mature.� (Photo, Jan van Gent)
photo of swordfish - 292 lbs - Azores
Above, still the all tackle world record swordfish (1,182-lbs.) caught in 1953 by Lou Marron off Iquique, Chile.  This coast once produced unbelievable numbers of anchovies (which were preyed on by tunas that were themselves the prey of monster sized swordfish and marlin) until the anchovies were overfished into oblivion.  The anchovies were there to feed on floating plants such as diatoms collectively called phytoplankton that were produced as a result of massive upwellings of nutrient-rich water associated with the Humbolt Current.
photo of Zane Grey and large swordfish - Catalina Island
Early photo of Zane Grey and one of the first large swordfish caught off Catalina Island, California, where big game fishing in the United States began.
Above, completely filling up the cockpit is a 292-lb. swordfish caught in the Azores by the Chris Craft called "Flamen." (Photo, Andree Angelreisen)
photo of George Garey and a massive swordfish caught in Chile
photo of Michael Lerner and two massive swordfish from his 1940 Peru-Chile Expedition
Above, world record holder, George Garey, holding one of his hand-made reels with another massive swordfish he caught off Tocopilla, Chile.
Above, Michael Lerner and a pair of big swords he caught on the same day during his Peru-Chile expedition of 1940.
photo of Michael Lerner and swordfish from his 1940 Peru-Chile Expedition
photo of an acrobatic swordfish
����������������������������� Above, an acrobatic sword.�


Left, Michael Lerner and another large swordfish caught during his South American expedition.
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Swordfish - page 2 of 3
New World Record Swordfish
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Live Moon Phase Display

Daily "Kill-o-Meter"

Longliners fish most heavily during the periods when the moon is brightest. So, this real-time image of the moon phase shows when the kill of swordfish is greatest and least. It also shows when the kill of blue marlin, white marlin, sailfish, sharks, tunas, sea turtles, marine mammals and a host of other marine life is also greatest - even though they are not even targeted. For more, see link above.



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