billfish

Broadbill Swordfish

Xiphias gladius

Where subsurface data really matters. Drop to the deep scattering layer, mind the thermocline.

Preferred water temp55–70°F

Preferred depth1200–1800 ft

Holds ondeep scattering layer, bottom relief

In our regions

Northeast Florida — AtlanticCentral/Southeast Florida — AtlanticMiami & Keys — Atlantic sideSouthwest Florida — GulfFlorida Panhandle — GulfBig Bend — GulfBahamas — Bimini & Grand BahamaBahamas — Abaco & AndrosBahamas — Eleuthera, Exuma & Cat IslandNorth Carolina (Outer Banks + Cape Lookout)South Carolina CoastGeorgia CoastAlabama GulfMississippi GulfLouisiana GulfTexas Gulf

Regulations

⚠️ BETA: best-effort current as of May 27, 2026. Confirm with the linked FWC / NOAA source before keeping a fish.

Showing 11 of 11 regulations

BAHAMAS

Bahamas — Department of Marine Resources

Catch & releaseCatch & release only

CATCH AND RELEASE recommended; commercial take prohibited. Recreational kept-fish bag rules follow the general 6-game-fish per vessel rule with no specific swordfish quota. Night chunking + daytime deep-drop both permitted with Sport Fishing Permit.

STATE

All Florida — State + Federal

Permit requiredPermit required

Bag limit: 1 / angler / day
Vessel limit: 3 total / vessel / day
Minimum: 47″ LJFL (lower jaw to fork)

NOAA HMS Angling or Charter/Headboat permit required. 47" LJFL or 33" cleithrum-keel min. 1/person/day, vessel limit 3.

STATE

FL Gulf — State waters (0–9 nm)

Currently OPENOpen year-round

Bag limit: 1 / angler / day
Vessel limit: 4 total / vessel / day
Minimum: 47″ LJFL (lower jaw to fork)

Same as Atlantic.

FL Gulf swordfish: 1/day, 47" LJFL.

AL_GULF

Alabama — State waters (0–3 nm) · AL CNR-MRD

Currently OPENOpen year-round

Bag limit: 1 / angler / day
Vessel limit: 4 total / vessel / day
Minimum: 47″ LJFL (lower jaw to fork)

HMS permit.

Alabama swordfish: 47" LJFL.

FEDERAL

Federal Atlantic (3–200 nm) — SAFMC

Currently OPENOpen year-round

Bag limit: 1 / angler / day
Minimum: 47″ LJFL (lower jaw to fork)

HMS Federal: 47" LJFL min. Private rec: 1/person/trip, max 4/vessel/trip. HMS Angling permit required.

GA_ATLANTIC

Georgia — State waters (0–3 nm) · GA DNR

Currently OPENOpen year-round

Bag limit: 1 / angler / day
Vessel limit: 4 total / vessel / day
Minimum: 47″ LJFL (lower jaw to fork)

HMS permit.

Georgia swordfish: HMS.

STATE

FL Atlantic — State waters (0–3 nm)

Currently OPENOpen year-round

Bag limit: 1 / angler / day
Vessel limit: 4 total / vessel / day
Minimum: 47″ LJFL (lower jaw to fork)

47" LJFL or 25" cleithrum to keel. Private: 1/person up to 4/vessel/trip. Charter: 1/passenger up to 6. Headboat: up to 15. HMS permit federal.

FL Atlantic swordfish: 1/day, 47" LJFL, HMS.

LA_GULF

Louisiana — State waters (0–3 nm) · LDWF

Currently OPENOpen year-round

Bag limit: 1 / angler / day
Vessel limit: 4 total / vessel / day
Minimum: 47″ LJFL (lower jaw to fork)

HMS permit.

Louisiana swordfish: 47" LJFL.

NC_ATLANTIC

North Carolina — State waters (0–3 nm) · NCDMF

Currently OPENOpen year-round

Bag limit: 1 / angler / day
Vessel limit: 4 total / vessel / day
Minimum: 47″ LJFL (lower jaw to fork)

HMS permit.

NC swordfish: 47" LJFL.

SC_ATLANTIC

South Carolina — State waters (0–3 nm) · SCDNR

Currently OPENOpen year-round

Bag limit: 1 / angler / day
Vessel limit: 4 total / vessel / day
Minimum: 47″ LJFL (lower jaw to fork)

HMS permit.

SC swordfish: 47" LJFL.

TX_GULF

Texas — State waters (0–9 nm) · TPWD

Currently OPENOpen year-round

Bag limit: 1 / angler / day
Vessel limit: 4 total / vessel / day
Minimum: 47″ LJFL (lower jaw to fork)

HMS permit federal; TX state aligns.

Texas swordfish: 47" LJFL federal.