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Although few people today who love to dine on the swordfish realize it, most of what they are dining on is the young of this species. The swordfish is a rare and beautifully exotic fish from the Xiphidae family. Although swordfish is highly popular as a food fish it has been so over fished that most of what is caught today is nothing more than the juveniles that have not even reached sexual maturity. This beautiful creature from the Perciformes order has become quite a challenge and sports trophy for most game fishermen. This is probably because the swordfish that has a long body shaped somewhat like that of the tuna and is known to put up a ferocious fight when hooked.
The swordfish makes its home in most tropical and moderate oceans throughout the world. Its most distinguishing characteristic is the long, flat sword that comes out from its snout to a sharp point and in adults has been observed to be about one third of the entire length of this fish. The body of the swordfish is a blend of blues and blacks on the outer part, often giving off a purplish sheen. It has bluish-gray coloring on the sides and a white underside. In most cases the swordfish prefers to swim alone although they are occasionally found in pairs or schools.
Swimming just beneath the surface of the water the swordfish moves at a very fast pace and is known to be able to swim great distances when feeding. Its diet consist mainly of mackerel, gar, herring and other small fish that swim in schools. Occasionally the swordfish will dive, reaching tremendous depths as it feeds on schools of shimmering sardines. Although there is much speculation concerning the use of the sword when this fish is feeding, this area of study is still not clear. Observers have claimed that the sword is used for slashing at the prey in an attempt to stun, kill or cut up the intended meal before ingesting it. Still others claim to have seen the swordfish use this long, spear like appendage as a kind of spit to spear their prey. In any case, it is known that the swordfish attacks its prey with an unmatched vigor that is seldom seen in other fish.
Studies have shown that the sword may also be used for defense. Several species of predators of this fish have been discovered with the broken sword still intact. Besides man, predators of the swordfish include some species of whales and sharks. Occasionally this mighty fish will even strike back at man and leave a portion of its sword sticking in the side of a boat.
The spawning season of the swordfish occurs after a migration to warmer waters. From June through August with these incredible fish move toward their spawning sites which are located in areas around the southern part of the Sargasso Sea or in the Mediterranean Ocean. After mating the female will deposit her tiny eggs, which are quite small considering the size of these fish. Each egg contains a tiny bubble of oil and causes them to rise to the surface of the water where they float along with the current until they have hatched. When the young hatch they are distinctly different from the adult in appearance. The tiny larvae have tiny jaws that are filled with teeth. The body is covered with scales and tiny spines can be observed along the gill covers. The young swordfish will stay near the adults and feed until the time has come to leave the nesting area and head to cooler waters. Once the juveniles have matured into adults the teeth will have disappeared and body will grow to be up to fifteen feet long. Although in most cases swordfish are caught with a hook, this noble fish is known to be one of the greatest fighters in the sea when hooked.
In some cases sports fisherman prefer to take this giant using a harpoon and especially along the Pacific and Atlantic coast in America. In both cases the swordfish will often win the battle, leaving a disappointed sportsman to watch as it swims away. A tremendous amount of concern is being generated concerning the North Atlantic swordfish. This fish, with its tasty meat and high commercial value as a food fish, is often served in restaurants. With over fifty percent of all swordfish that are caught being classified as juveniles that have not reached their sexual maturity, it is feared this incredible fish might become extinct.
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