fish predators

Question
QUESTION: Hi, my question is how do predator fish in the ocean swallow the fish they catch when chasing them. Do they just swallow them tail first or must they swallow them head first? I assume that a fish will resist being swallowed by expanding its fins, maybe spines, maybe the direction of the scales makes it hard too.
Wouldn't it be easier to swallow them head first? I know some land animals have the same issues but the concern here is that a fish swimming at full speed to catch the other fish just has the option of opening its mouth to swallow it tail first or would it have to injure it to slow it down or kill it and then swallow it head first? Obviously it depends on the size of the prey viz a viz the mouth of the predator but if its a tight fit?
I would appreciate your answer.
thanks,
Raul Braun

ANSWER: Hi Raul,

I'm not a biologist but every fish I have seen get swallowed gets swallowed head first.  I've opened hundreds of stomachs and the baitfish are always stacked in there head first.

Fish will catch a fish from behind and kill it but it always repositions the prey and swallows head first.  Lots of times fish grab prey sideways, t-bone them.  But once dead or injured they will swallow head first.  

In my region, the Great lakes Brown Trout are head strikers.  Its madeening at times.  Bone crushing strikes but you cant hook them because they are hitting a spoon up at the front where there are no hooks.  Add a treble hook to the snap where the lure is attached to the line and you hook up every time.

Good fishing,

Marc

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thanks for your response. I am not asking this as for fishing purposes. I was thinking more of in the ocean, in the wild. How do fish catch fish and swallow them. Fish with teeth probably do it different since can chew them before swallowing. I was only asking about the ones that swallow their prey. Do they ever swim towards each other and one swallows the other? If the predator swims from behind, can he just swallow the prey? wont the prey resist and try to open its fins? and the scales would cause a lot of friction I imagine going against the grain.
I appreciate any info you can give me.
thank-you,
Raul.

Answer
I really don't know that a prey would swim right into something trying to eat it.  Yes, you are right, they cant swallow things tail first no matter how they grab it.  What ever they grab and kill, they reposition head first before swallowing.  Dorsal fins and gill covers flaired open would never go down even if the prey were dead.

Thanks,

Marc