UTERSwordfish fishing in New Jersey saltwater fishing
In New Jersey saltwater fishing, swordfish peak July–October and are around June–November, according to Fish Scouter's month-by-month season calendar. August: Night drifts and daytime deep-drops in the Hudson and Toms canyons.
No note for October — see the months around it.
Swordfish in New Jersey saltwater fishing, month by month
- JanuaryNot here
- FebruaryNot here
- MarchNot here
- AprilNot here
- MayNot here
- JuneArriving
- JulyPeak
- AugustPeakNight drifts and daytime deep-drops in the Hudson and Toms canyons.
- SeptemberPeak
- OctoberPeak
- NovemberLeaving
- DecemberNot here
Where to fish swordfish near Cape May, Atlantic City, Barnegat Light
A 130-mile barrier-island coast of surf beaches and rock jetties, cut by inlets (Cape May, Townsends, Absecon, Barnegat, Manasquan, Shark River) into shallow back bays — Barnegat Bay, Great Bay, the Cape May wetlands — with Raritan Bay at the north end; offshore, a field of artificial reefs, ridges and wrecks out to the Hudson, Toms, Wilmington and Spencer canyons.
Fish Scouter charts 148 ledge / hard bottom spots in the The Jersey Shore map area — the kinds swordfish hold on.
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 New Jersey saltwater fishing?
Peak season is July–October. Swordfish are in New Jersey saltwater fishing June–November. August: Night drifts and daytime deep-drops in the Hudson and Toms canyons.
Where do swordfish hold in New Jersey saltwater fishing?
Look on ledge / hard bottom — around Cape May, Atlantic City, Barnegat Light, Point Pleasant, Belmar, Sandy Hook.
What is the best bait for swordfish in New Jersey saltwater fishing?
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 New Jersey saltwater fishing?
Size and bag limits and closed seasons are set by the New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife (NJ Fish and Wildlife) and change — read the current rule at https://dep.nj.gov/njfw/fishing/marine/ before you keep a fish. A licence is sold at https://dep.nj.gov/njfw/licenses-and-permits/.
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