Swordfish feed every day, most commonly at night, when they rise to surface
or near-surface waters to search for smaller fish.
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Swordfish have been seen swimming through schools of fish slashing their
sword side to side in order to kill or stun their prey and then quickly turning
around and eating the injured or dead fish.
Photo courtesy of Ocean Planet
Photo courtesy of towersoflife.com
Swordfish feed primarily on squid, crustaceans, anchovies, hakes, mackerel,
rockfishes and other types of smaller fish.
Squid ...................................................... Anchovies
Photo courtesy of nature.com
Photo courtesy of intint
At lower depths of their range (above 2,100 feet) swordfish feed primarily on
demersal fishes and possibly squid and other cephalopods.
The stomach contents of some swordfish were examined and it was found
that the larger fish, squid and cuttlefish in the swordfish’s belly had slash
marks on their bodies, these marks indicate that the swordfish uses its sword
to injure its larger prey. Further examination revealed that smaller fish
had presumably been consumed as whole pieces.
Photo courtesy of Double D Charters