 GLADIATOR! — Taking a closer look at broadbill swordfish — An IGFA feature, with local inserts by Dave Rorke
ON 6th July 1967, 2 000 feet below the surface of the ocean off the east coast of Florida, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) research submersible, Alvin, was in the middle of a geological survey, taking photos of deep sea coral specimens, when the pilots heard a scraping sound on the outside of the vessel.
Realising they were in a stationary position on the sea floor, they looked out of the small portholes to see what could be causing this strange noise. When the pilots were able to determine the cause, they were astonished to see that their undersea craft was being attacked by a broadbill swordfish!
Stories of broadbill attacking ships and other man-made objects at sea are not as rare as one might think. The determination and courage of broadbill has been recorded many times with broken “swords”, or bills, found lodged in the sides of boat hulls, underwater oil rigs and, in this case, deep sea submersibles.
Luckily, the crew of the Alvin was unharmed when the broadbill pierced a fibreglass structure on the hull of their craft. However, other ocean-going creatures have not been so lucky when encountering a hungry or angry broadbill.
The broadbill swordfish, Xiphias gladius, is the only member of the genus Xiphias (sword in Greek). The species name, gladius, is derived from the sword carried by Roman legionnaires, and this great animal uses its namesake with stunning effect. Swordfish have been known to attack whales, giant squid and even sharks with their swords.
These fish are large, highly migratory predators with elongate, round bodies and a smooth, broad, flattened bill. Their bills, or swords, are very different from other billfish, like marlin, that have a rougher, rounded bill. These fish lack teeth and scales as adults, and they inhabit tropic and temperate areas of oceans all around the world. The IGFA world record for a swordfish caught on rod and reel is 1 182 lb, landed off Iquiguq, Chile, on 7th May 1953.
Read the full story in the January/February 2010 issue of SKI-BOAT.
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