Found worldwide in temperate and tropical oceanic and continental shelf waters from the surface to depths of 400-500 fathoms or more. Fishing methods include trolling baits or deep drifting at night with bait such as squid. they are often found basking on the surface with their dorsal and tail fins protruding from the water. Squid is the most popular bait, although mackeral, eel, mullet, herring, tuna and live or dead bonito are also used. To land a broadbill is considered by many to be the highest achievement in angling. Very large swordfish are always females. The males seldom exceed 200 pounds.