this is kinda a pre mature question as i have to catch one first, but once that is out of the way, can something be cut off the swordfish to help it fit in the icebox better. i think i read somewere you could remove the head, and there is still a legal carcess length.
With a big sword even without the head they won't fit in even the largest of fish boxes. I would recommend getting a marlin bag that allows the bill to stick out and pack the fish boxes with ice to load the fish bag up with when you land the swordy.
This link will take you to recreational fishing regulations. Swordfish length, weight, and measurement requirements are near the bottom of the last page. Carcass length is clarified in the text on preceding page. http://www.gulfcouncil.org/Beta/GMFMCWeb/downloads/recbrochure.pdf Bill S
The federal measurement is lower jaw to fork of tail. I have cut the bills off of plenty of swords to get them in my box. I have a 36 contender and 26 glacier bay so a sword has to be pretty much over 200 to not fit. I have laid a couple on the deck and packed the body with ice and they are just fine done that way. They dont have to be iced down as much as a tuna does to keep fresh.
