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Studio illustration of a shortbill spearfish with a dark blue back, pale silver belly, very short bill and tall pointed dorsal fin against a dark background.
All Species

Shortbill Spearfish

Tetrapturus angustirostris

Updated · Published

Season: August and September in the San Diego accounts we found. Strong El Niño years bring more.Averages about 35 lbs – Up to about 115 lbs worldwide (FishBase lists 52 kg); local fish are far smaller

Shortbill spearfish are the smallest billfish in the Pacific, with a bill that is barely there. They show up on the troll offshore of San Diego now and then, most often in warm years, and a fish worth identifying and releasing.

Illustration: Fish City

How big do shortbill spearfish get

They average about 35 lbs and are the smallest billfish in the Pacific. FishBase lists a maximum published weight of 52 kg (about 115 lbs), but fish that big are not caught off San Diego.

Where shortbill spearfish are caught

Well offshore in warm water. In SoCal, trollers have caught them 120 to 150 miles southwest of Point Loma, on offshore banks and on long-range trips. Kona is the most reliable place for them.

Shortbill spearfish regulations in California

California lists a limit of one for marlin and bans sale of sport-caught fish. 14 CCR 28.50 names only marlin, so the general finfish rule applies to spearfish (14 CCR 27.60: 20 fish a day, no more than 10 of one species). In Mexico a billfish counts as 5 of the 10-fish daily total.

About Shortbill Spearfish

Shortbill spearfish are the small, odd member of the Pacific billfish family. A typical fish averages about 35 lbs, the bill is only a short spike, and the body is slim. For most anglers it is a surprise on the troll, not a planned target.

They live in open water far from the coast. San Diego catches are scattered: a fish 120 to 150 miles southwest of Point Loma in August 2004, one on a 3/4-day boat in 2015, and at least two dozen in the 1983 El Niño. Hawaii's Kona coast is the place that holds them reliably.

Telling It Apart

Check the bill and the body. A shortbill has a really short bill, sometimes looking like no bill at all, small pectoral fins. Young striped marlin are the usual look-alike, so always check the bill before you call it a marlin.

How to Catch

Trolling is how every San Diego-area account describes it. They come to lures in a spread set for marlin or tuna.

Keep the fight short. Several anglers released their spearfish without lifting them from the water, which is the best practice for a small billfish.

Eating Profile

Shortbill spearfish are edible and are a minor commercial fish elsewhere, sold as sashimi and fish cakes in Japan. Most California anglers release them.

Common Mistakes

  • Calling it a small striped marlin. Check the bill first.
  • Fighting too long. A small billfish tires quickly. Keep the fight tight and the release quick.
  • Planning a trip around one. Spearfish are an occasional surprise.

When to Look

  • Jan to Jun: Water is too cold off San Diego.
  • Jul to Oct: Where the San Diego accounts cluster, mostly August and September in warm years.
  • Nov to Dec: Warm water retreats south.

Looking for a trip? See San Diego charters. Related fish: Striped Marlin and Swordfish.

Where to Catch Shortbill Spearfish in California

  • Open water well offshore of San Diego. One August 2004 fish came about 120 to 150 miles southwest of Point Loma
  • Offshore banks and the 230 and 277 spots, where trollers have caught them over the years
  • Long-range trips, where crews have reported a couple of spearfish after bluefin fishing
  • Warm water in strong El Niño years: at least two dozen were caught on San Diego boats in the 1983 El Niño

Conditions & Habitat

Water Temp

Warm offshore water. FishBase says spawning is believed to peak in warm currents around 77°F.

Typical Depth

Surface water above the thermocline. FishBase lists 0 to 6,000 ft but usually the top 1,150 ft.

Diet

Fishes, squid and crustaceans (FishBase)

How to Catch Shortbill Spearfish

Techniques

  • Troll the spread. Every SoCal account of a shortbill is a troll bite
  • Troll while fishing for marlin or tuna; shortbill often come as a surprise on that same gear
  • Keep the fight short and release the fish boatside; several anglers released theirs without lifting them from the water

Lures & Baits

  • Trolled lures and feathers in the same spread that catches marlin and tuna

Line & Leader

Use the same trolling line and leader as the rest of the spread. Ask the captain what the boat is running.

Rod & Reel Combos

  • The trolling outfit already out on the boat

Regulations

California's ocean regulations list a limit of one for marlin (14 CCR 28.50), and the state generally bans selling sport-caught fish (Fish and Game Code 7121). 14 CCR 28.50 reads 'Limit: One' and names only marlin. Spearfish are not named there, so the general finfish rule applies (14 CCR 27.60: 20 fish a day, no more than 10 of one species). Many anglers release billfish. In Mexican waters, commonly described CONAPESCA rules count a billfish, spearfish included, as 5 of the 10-fish daily total with one billfish per day, and every angler needs a Mexican fishing license. Always verify current CDFW and CONAPESCA rules before your trip.

As of — CDFW source

When boats actually landed it

Not enough data yet — too few reported trips to show a reliable catch pattern.

Did You Know?

San Diego boats caught at least two dozen shortbill spearfish during the 1983 El Niño, according to a long-time angler on the Bloody Decks forums.

Book a Shortbill Spearfish Charter

Find charter boats targeting Shortbill Spearfish at these California landings:

San Diego

Frequently Asked Questions

Look at the bill and body. A shortbill has a very short bill, sometimes seeming to have none, small pectoral fins and a skinnier body. Juvenile striped marlin are commonly mistaken for them, so look at the bill first.

Sources

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