And here's the skinny on swordfish!

Locally caught Pacific swordfish ( Xiphias gladius ) is a marriage of the Greek and Latin words meaning “Gladiator, Gladiator.” And believe it or not, swordfish have been known to drive their bony swords through several inches of wooden boat planking when hooked!

There is only one species of swordfish known to exist. They are the sole members of a family of fish with the tongue-twisting name of Xiphiidae. Adult swordfish have no scales or teeth and rely on their large sword for killing their prey. They actually eat a lot of the same fish we do: small tunas, mahi mahi, rockfish, barracudas, shrimp, and squid. They weigh up to 1200 pounds and grow to be 15 feet long. We generally catch them at 200 pounds and eight feet long. Important in the cultures of local coastal Indians such as the Chumash who lived along our coast and on the Channel Islands , swordfish featured prominently in dances and other rituals (similar to the way buffalo did in the lives of the Plains Indians).

Swordfish swim at the very surface of the water. They generally live well out to sea. This allows them to hunt through a great range of depth, something they have adapted to do over the eons. Swordfish are traditionally harpooned, but they are also caught by long line and gill nets.

I would be happy to answer any questions you may have about seafood. Please email me from the “Ask the Chief Seafood Officer” page on our website.