I can't tell you how many times a customer has come into our boat shop and told me "I want a rod to catch a swordfish"…and then expect me to sell them the correct fishing rod. They usually leave with the wrong rod.
There are SO many different types of rods on the market designed for so many purposes, yet when someone says "I want a rod to catch a swordfish", I cringe and know that they probably don't have the right equipment.
What is the proper fishing rod for swordfish? That depends on who you ask or what article you read. This article will attempt to explain the different rods available, and then give you my take on the "best swordfish rods".
First, lets define our terms. The term "swordfish" can be used to describe several different species of fish. All are members of the Xiphiidae family, which is what I will call them here.
All are large migratory fishes with a fusiform body (tapering at both ends), pectoral fins that are greatly enlarged and sword-like, dorsal fin far back on the body, caudal peduncle with keels (a keel is an extra ridge like a center line down the side of many fishes) and small eyes.
Swordfish can grow very large; the record is 1090 pounds caught in Massachusetts in 1992. In the Atlantic, swordfish range from North Carolina to Brazil, although they are most abundant from New Jersey to Florida. Large concentrations of swordfish also occur in the Mediterranean Sea, but they are absent from fresh water and from deep tropical waters.
In the Pacific Ocean, swordfish range from central California around the Baja Peninsula and southward to Peru, and north to the Bering Sea and Okhotsk Sea. They are also found in coastal waters of China, Korea, Japan and Taiwan; but they do not occur around Hawaii.
Swordfish prefer water at least 150 feet deep with temperatures between 52 degrees F (11 degrees C) and 75 degrees F (24 degrees C). They feed mainly on squid, mackerel, herring, sauries and at night they follow the prey higher to near surface waters.
Swordfish are pelagic fishes that are found world-wide in temperate and tropical waters. They are popular game fish because of their size and aggressiveness when hooked. Most swordfishes taken by anglers are two pounds or less; but occasionally a big one is caught.
The general consensus is that the best fishing rod for swordfish is about 8 feet in length, rated to handle 30 - 80 pound test line, have a fast taper to give the angler some bend in the rod, and have either an "aggressiveness", or parabolic taper that will give you some 'lift" when fighting the fish.
There are three popular styles of swords used by anglers, each requiring a different fishing rod: The European style sword with a single point, The South American style sword has no point and is "blunt", and the Japanese style sword is a modified South American style.
Each of these swords requires the correct fishing rod to ensure safe landing of the fish, and an enjoyable fight.
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