Apnaut

Swordfish

Xiphias gladius

Swordfish (Xiphias gladius)

Photo: sylvain_eichhorn · CC BY 4.0

Depthbetween 30 and 90 m
Habitatopen water
DifficultyVery hard

The Swordfish (Xiphias gladius) is one of the species that spearfishers and freedivers log in Apnaut. It usually frequents open water and is found between 30 and 90 m, so it pays to adjust your search depth. It is usually solitary, which shapes how to approach it.

It's one of the hardest fish: patience and technique. In Apnaut you have its minimum legal size across 2 different zones. Always check your area's current regulations before taking it.

Behaviour: usually solitary.

Minimum legal size by zone

ZoneMinimum size
North-East Atlantic125 cm
Mediterranean100 cm

Where to catch it

Other names

Pez espada (es) · Espadarte (pt) · Espadon (fr) · Pesce spada (it) · Schwertfisch (de) · Ξιφίας (el) · Iglun (hr) · Kılıç balığı (tr)

Frequently asked questions

What is the minimum legal size for Swordfish?

It depends on the area. For example, North-East Atlantic: 125 cm; Mediterranean: 100 cm. See the full size-by-zone table above.

At what depth is Swordfish found?

Usually between 30 and 90 m, mostly over open water.

Is it hard to spearfish on a single breath?

Its difficulty is “very hard”. It is also usually solitary. In Apnaut you can log your catches and their size.

Log it in Apnaut

Add this species to your collection, log your catches with their size and check the legal minimum for your area, all from your phone.

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