What’s the Difference: Sailfish vs. Swordfish vs. Marlin

What’s the Difference: Sailfish vs. Swordfish vs. Marlin

Whether you’re fishing for swordfish, sailfins, marlins (or compliments!), our UPF50 sun shirts offer cool comfort, protection and style. Click here to check out our sun shirt collection.

Although sailfish, marlins and swordfish have a few things in common, they are distinctly different animals. If you’re looking for an easy way to impress your fishing buddies or a quick conversation starter at boring dinner parties, all you need to do is relay all the info found below. 

What They Have in Common

Thanks to their impressive features, all three of these fish are incredibly majestic. One of their first stand-out features is their prominent bill – or sword – which puts them squarely in the billfish category. 

Also known as a rostrum, their bill is used to initially slice and stun their prey – so they can circle back around for the final kill. 

Additional commonalities include: 

  • Advanced swim bladders, which let them rapidly change depths
  • Found in every ocean on the planet
  • Constantly moving… and moving (some billfish have been tracked swimming across the entire Atlantic Ocean)

A large dorsal fin is another prominent feature the three species have in common, although closer inspection of it serves as a way to tell the three fish apart. 

Differences: Sailfish vs. Swordfish vs. Marlin

Sailfish 

  • Dorsal fin is like a “sail” that extends the entire length of their backs
  • Hunts solo or in groups
  • Groups use their swords and sails to herd prey into a “bait ball” – then take turns darting through the ball of stunned fish to dine
  • Can reach up to 14 feet long and 1,200 pounds

Swordfish 

  • Dorsal fin sticks up from their spine, similar to a shark’s dorsal fin
  • Longest bill out of the three, when bill examined in proportion to their bodies
  • Can reach up to 15 feet long and more than 1,400 pounds 

Marlin 

  • Dorsal fin is smaller than other billfish species
  • Long and sloping dorsal fin connects to the back along a soft ridge
  • Bills are sometimes more rounded and shorter than other billfish
  • Blue marlins in Atlantic Ocean typically hit about 13 feet and 1,300 pounds 

Bonus Info 

As some of the most majestic ocean dwellers, sailfish, swordfish and marlins make spectacular subjects for graphic designs. Here are a few billfish sun shirts we regularly stock, and we also do custom printing if you want to show off your latest catch or another custom design.

Click here to check out our sailfish and marlin sun shirt options. 

Back to blog