What's the differance between a Swordfish and a Marlin?

[JerryBartz]

I've been looking this up here over the last hour and it seems that both are the same thing. They must be in the same family going by appearance. But the Marline has different colors attached to it's name. Were the Swordfish is just that. They both are listed on a lot of sites together. It it a size, color or Ocean location that separates the fish? I've fish for them both off the coast of North Carolina when I was a kid. But this question came up tonight when my Wife ( who's from the coast of MA herself ). Said their two different fish, but wasn't sure why.

[koko]

There are several species of marlin (blue, black, striped, white), but only one swordfish. They do share some physical similarities but they also have some differences. The bill on a swordfish looks just like a sword. A marlin bill is more rounded, not as long, and has a rough, raspy surface that the swordfish does not. They are all large open water predators however, swordfish are primarily nocturnal whereas marlin are diurnal. Marlin are more often found in the upper reaches of the water column, where swords are often found in depths exceeding 1000 feet. Swordfish have a much wider temperature range, where marlin are more tropical and subtropical in habitat. Oh, and swordfish tastes better! These were the big differences in my mind, I am sure others might have stuff to add.

[JerryBartz]

Originally Posted by koko

There are several species of marlin (blue, black, striped, white), but only one swordfish. They do share some physical similarities but they also have some differences. The bill on a swordfish looks just like a sword. A marlin bill is more rounded, not as long, and has a rough, raspy surface that the swordfish does not. They are all large open water predators however, swordfish are primarily nocturnal whereas marlin are diurnal. Marlin are more often found in the upper reaches of the water column, where swords are often found in depths exceeding 1000 feet. Swordfish have a much wider temperature range, where marlin are more tropical and subtropical in habitat. Oh, and swordfish tastes better! These were the big differences in my mind, I am sure others might have stuff to add.

Thanks for taking the time. Was kinda surprised to see a person from the Midwest response with some clarification and not some ocean living coast liner, lol. Through my search on this topic. I came across this site which seems to be pretty detailed. Yet listed the Marlin ( female ) to be a much larger fish over the two and a male Marlin to be just a little larger than the Swordfish. It gives some physical characteristic's. But unless you really know what you're reading. It's kinda hard to deciefer. It listed the Marlin to be just a tad larger fish as well in the Blue and Black. But not in the Striped fish. Just some good light reading.


http://www.fisheries.nsw.gov.au/recr...er/gamefishing

[tunaman81]

There are many differences between marlin and swordfish. While marlins are considered a billfish, swordfish are technically not a billfish.

Swordfish (Xiphias gladius) are the only member of their family. Marlin belong to a different family of fishes. Swordfish also lack scales and do not have a pelvic fin, which is present in the marlin. As stated earlier, swordfish have a flattened bill as opposed to the marlin's more cylindrical bill. The body of the swordfish is also more cylindrical and stocky than marlin, possibly to handle the cooler temperatures and great depths which they frequent. Swordfish also have larger eyes with a counter current exchange system that uses blood warmed by the body to keep their eyes and brain functioning in the cold waters of the deep ocean (swordfish have been seen in depths exceeding 3000 feet!!!)

Swordfish also have a much larger temperature tolerance than all marlins. They can be found in areas with temperatures beteween the high 50's and 80 degrees fahrenheit. Though swordfish feed mainly at night, they will also feed during the day, though at much deeper depths (as found with the Venezualan day time swordfishery).

As with marlin, the larger swordfish are female. As far as maximum size goes, blue marlin, black marlin, and swordfish appear to reach similar sizes. While the all tackle record of swordfish is 1182 pounds, Atlantic blue marlin is 1402 pounds, Pacific blue marlin is 1376 pounds (though a fish caught off Hawaii was 1805 pounds but was not caught according to IGFA rules), and black marlin is 1560 pounds, all three fish are belived to reach at least 2000 pounds. A commercially caught swordfish and a few commercially caught blue marlin have been repotred to have been over 2000 pounds. Fish also experience indeterminate growth, which means they never stop growing as long as they live.

[Anonymous]

another major difference is the dorsal fin on a swordfish is ridged, fixed in the upright position. Where as all Marlin and sailfish have a doral fin that can fold down into a channel. Billfish also have two elongated fins coming out lfrom under their bellies just below the pec fins. those too can be retrached into a grove that runs along their bellies. Swordies lack the features. There are a few others differences, but I am having a brain fart due to only 2 1/2 hours of sleep. Hope this little bit of info helps you out.

[AkaUrDad]

They are the same fish. If you catch one during daylight hours trolling Black Bart lures, it's a Marlin. If you catch one at night using salami for bait then it's a swordfish.

[Anonymous]

Originally Posted by AkaUrDad

They are the same fish. If you catch one during daylight hours trolling Black Bart lures, it's a Marlin. If you catch one at night using salami for bait then it's a swordfish.

01456

[tunaman81]

Originally Posted by SwordSlasher

another major difference is the dorsal fin on a swordfish is ridged, fixed in the upright position. Where as all Marlin and sailfish have a doral fin that can fold down into a channel. Billfish also have two elongated fins coming out lfrom under their bellies just below the pec fins. those too can be retrached into a grove that runs along their bellies. Swordies lack the features.

That is true for white and blue marlin, however, the pectoral and dorsal fins of a black marlin are rigid and fixed like swordfish

[CAPTINMITCH]

Originally Posted by AkaUrDad

They are the same fish. If you catch one during daylight hours trolling Black Bart lures, it's a Marlin. If you catch one at night using salami for bait then it's a swordfish.

Keep laughing, I'll do it before the end of the year. :lol:

http://www.swordfishingcentral.com/f...ghlight=salami