Swordfish fishing in Long Island Sound and Montauk
In Long Island Sound and Montauk, swordfish peak July–October and are around June–November, according to Fish Scouter's month-by-month season calendar. August: Swordfish in the Hudson and Block canyons on night drifts.
No note for October — see the months around it.
Swordfish in Long Island Sound and Montauk, month by month
- JanuaryNot here
- FebruaryNot here
- MarchNot here
- AprilNot here
- MayNot here
- JuneArriving
- JulyPeak
- AugustPeakSwordfish in the Hudson and Block canyons on night drifts.
- SeptemberPeak
- OctoberPeak
- NovemberLeaving
- DecemberNot here
Where to fish swordfish near Sheepshead Bay, Freeport, Captree
New York Harbor, Jamaica Bay and the lower Hudson; Long Island's south shore surf and inlets backed by Great South Bay and the Moriches and Shinnecock bays; the Peconic and Gardiners bays between the forks; Montauk Point's boulder fields and rips; and Long Island Sound — rocky reefs, harbors and the Connecticut river mouths on the north side, the Race at the east end. Offshore to the Hudson and Block canyons.
What to use for swordfish
- SquidStrips on a bottom rig for snapper, grunts and porgies; whole on a deep-drop rig.
- Leader80–150 lb mono
- Hook8/0–14/0
- Braid65–100 lb
Feeds in 55–75°F water, best at 58–68°F.
Questions anglers ask
When is the best time to catch swordfish in Long Island Sound and Montauk?
Peak season is July–October. Swordfish are in Long Island Sound and Montauk June–November. August: Swordfish in the Hudson and Block canyons on night drifts.
Where do swordfish hold in Long Island Sound and Montauk?
Look on ledge / hard bottom — around Sheepshead Bay, Freeport, Captree, Port Jefferson, Montauk, Orient.
What is the best bait for swordfish in Long Island Sound and Montauk?
Live bait: squid. Squid: Strips on a bottom rig for snapper, grunts and porgies; whole on a deep-drop rig. Tackle: leader 80–150 lb mono, hook 8/0–14/0, braid 65–100 lb.
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