Broadbill Swordfish
Chile holds a permanent place in swordfish history: the all-tackle world record — 536 kg (1,182 lb), caught off the Chilean coast in 1953 — still stands.
Commercial harpooners had been working these waters for decades before sport anglers arrived, and the deep, cold-water upwellings along Chile's Pacific coast concentrate swordfish in numbers that few places on earth can match.
For offshore anglers willing to put in the deep-drop work, Chile is as serious as it gets.
Scientific Name: Xiphias gladius
Also known as Broadbill, Pez espada
- Flat, elongated bill (not round like a marlin's) is the clearest field mark — it's wide and blade-like, not a spear.
- Cylindrical, muscular body with a dark purplish-brown back fading to lighter sides; no visible scales or pelvic fins on adults.
- Enormous eyes — proportionally larger than any other billfish — adapted for hunting in near-darkness at depth.
- Most fish landed by sport anglers run 50–150 kg; the all-tackle record from Chilean waters is 536 kg (1,182 lb).
What to know
Habitat Distribution
- Native to the Pacific Ocean; found naturally along Chile's entire Pacific coastline as a highly migratory pelagic species.
- Ranges from tropical to temperate and occasionally sub-temperate waters — the most temperature-tolerant of all billfish.
- Spends daylight hours at depth, routinely diving past 650 m (2,000 ft) into cold, dark water to feed.
- Chile's cold Humboldt Current upwelling creates productive deep-water feeding zones that concentrate swordfish along the coast.
Key Locations
- The Chilean coast broadly — commercial harpooners and sport anglers have historically worked the deep Pacific waters off central and northern Chile.
- Offshore waters off Iquique and the northern Chilean coast sit above productive Humboldt Current upwelling zones known to hold swordfish.
- The deep Pacific drop-offs accessible from ports along the Chilean coast were the grounds where the 1953 all-tackle world record was taken aboard the Flying Heart III.
Specific Spots
- Deep-water canyons and drop-offs where the bottom falls away sharply concentrate swordfish during their daytime deep dives — target 400–600 m of water.
- At night, fish move up into the water column, often within the top 100 m, following squid and baitfish that rise after dark.
- Temperature breaks and upwelling edges where cold Humboldt Current water meets warmer surface water are reliable holding areas.
Broadbill Swordfish FAQ
Answers from onWater's species guide.
What are the best lures and bait for Broadbill Swordfish?
Whole rigged squid is the go-to deep-drop bait worldwide and in Chilean waters, rig them on a single large circle hook with a light stick above the bait to draw fish in the dark.
When is the best time to fish for Broadbill Swordfish?
Spring and summer (September–February) align with peak swordfish activity at higher Chilean latitudes, corresponding to warmer surface temperatures and spawning season. The historic 1953 world-record fish was taken in May (early Chilean autumn), suggesting fish can be present outside peak summer months as well.
How do you catch Broadbill Swordfish?
Most sport fishing for swordfish in Chile is done from offshore boats using deep-drop techniques during daylight hours, presenting baited rigs at 300–600 m, or switching to shallower drifted baits after dark when fish rise in the water column.
What do Broadbill Swordfish eat?
Squid are the primary forage, swordfish slash through squid schools with their bill to stun prey before eating. Large squid imitations (rigged whole squid or soft-plastic squid lures) are the standard deep-drop bait.
Where do Broadbill Swordfish live?
Native to the Pacific Ocean; found naturally along Chile's entire Pacific coastline as a highly migratory pelagic species. Ranges from tropical to temperate and occasionally sub-temperate waters, the most temperature-tolerant of all billfish.
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