UTERSwordfish fishing in Outer Banks & Hatteras
In Outer Banks & Hatteras, swordfish peak May–October and are around year-round, according to Fish Scouter's month-by-month season calendar. June: Daytime swords off Hatteras.
No note for October — see the months around it.
Swordfish in Outer Banks & Hatteras, month by month
- JanuaryAround
- FebruaryAround
- MarchAround
- AprilAround
- MayPeak
- JunePeakDaytime swords off Hatteras.
- JulyPeak
- AugustPeak
- SeptemberPeak
- OctoberPeak
- NovemberAround
- DecemberAround
Where to fish swordfish near Ocracoke, Hatteras, Buxton
A hundred and twenty miles of barrier island — Ocracoke, Hatteras, Pea Island, Bodie, the northern beaches — with Cape Point at Buxton where the Gulf Stream and the Labrador Current meet, three inlets (Ocracoke, Hatteras, Oregon), and behind them Pamlico, Croatan and Albemarle sounds and the Neuse and Pamlico rivers. The Gulf Stream runs 20 miles off Oregon Inlet.
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 Outer Banks & Hatteras?
Peak season is May–October. Swordfish are here year-round. June: Daytime swords off Hatteras.
Where do swordfish hold in Outer Banks & Hatteras?
Look on ledge / hard bottom — around Ocracoke, Hatteras, Buxton, Avon, Rodanthe, Oregon Inlet.
What is the best bait for swordfish in Outer Banks & Hatteras?
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.
What are the rules for swordfish in Outer Banks & Hatteras?
Size and bag limits and closed seasons are set by the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC) and change — read the current rule at https://www.deq.nc.gov/about/divisions/marine-fisheries/rules-proclamations-and-size-and-bag-limits before you keep a fish. A licence is sold at https://www.ncwildlife.org/licensing.
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All about swordfish · The Outer Banks, the whole year