Atlantic Swordfish Fishing Off Virginia Beach

The Gladiators of the Mid-Atlantic

The waters off Virginia have earned a reputation as one of the East Coast’s premier big-game fisheries, and at the top of the target list sits the Atlantic swordfish (Xiphias gladius)—a fish so powerful and iconic it’s often called the “gladiator of the deep.” From the Norfolk Canyon and beyond the 100-fathom curve, broadbill swordfish draw anglers from across the country, especially during the prime summer and early fall months when these nomadic predators move into Mid-Atlantic waters.

Appearance and Size

Swordfish are unmistakable: a sleek, rounded body, enormous black eyes, dark brown to almost black back fading to light brown or white below, and of course the long, flattened “sword” that can make up one-third of the fish’s total length. In the Atlantic, females grow much larger than males. Most Virginia-landed swordfish range 80–300 pounds, but 400–600-pound fish are caught every season, and fish over 800 pounds (“pumpkin swords”) are possible. The all-tackle world record stands at 1,182 lb (caught in Chile), though Atlantic fish rarely exceed 1,000 lb.

Where and When to Find Them off Virginia

Broadbills are highly migratory pelagic fish. In summer (June–October), they move up the edge of the Gulf Stream into the Mid-Atlantic, often concentrating along temperature breaks, weed lines, and especially around the Norfolk Canyon, Washington Canyon, and the fingers extending off the continental shelf. Daytime fishing targets fish suspended 1,200–1,900 feet deep, while nighttime trips focus on the top 300 feet when swordfish rise to feed under the lights.

Day vs. Night Techniques

Daytime deep-dropping – The modern explosion in Virginia swordfishing came with electric reels, heavy 50W–130W rods, 80–100 lb braided line, 200–300 lb wind-on leaders, and 8–12 oz glow squid or skirted ballyhoo fished with chemical light sticks or LED “deep-drop” lights. Depths of 1,400–1,800 ft in 100–600 fathoms of water are common.

Nighttime drifting with lights – Popularized in the 1970s and still deadly. Anglers drift in 50–300 fathoms with green or white LED lights hanging every 50–100 ft down the water column, dangling whole squid or large strip baits 50–200 ft deep. When the squid start “swimming” upward in the lights, a sword is usually nearby.

Regulations for Virginia Recreational Anglers (2025)

Minimum size: 47 inches lower-jaw-to-fork length (LJFL) or 25 inches cleithrum-to-keel length (CK)

Bag limit: 1 fish per person, maximum 3 per vessel per trip (whichever is more restrictive).

Required: Federal HMS (Highly Migratory Species) permit with swordfish endorsement for the vessel.

All swordfish (kept or released) must be reported to NMFS within 24 hours via phone, app, or online
Circle hooks and non-stainless-steel required when using natural bait.

The Fight and the Meat

Few fish fight like a broadbill. Once hooked deep or at night, they often rocket to the surface, tail-walk, and throw spectacular jumps—sometimes clearing the water by 10–15 feet. A 200-pounder on stand-up tackle can take 45 minutes to two hours to subdue. And the reward? Swordfish is one of the finest eating fish in the ocean—firm, mild, steak-like loins that grill or blacken beautifully.

Conservation Success Story

The North Atlantic swordfish stock is one of the world’s great fisheries-recovery stories. Overfishing in the 1980s and 1990s crashed spawning biomass, but strict quotas, minimum sizes, and international cooperation through ICCAT rebuilt the population. Today the stock is considered fully rebuilt, with fishing mortality well below sustainable levels. The U23 U.S. continues to receive annual quotas that allow both commercial and recreational fishermen healthy access while keeping the population strong.

From the canyons off Virginia Beach to the deep blue beyond, the broadbill swordfish remains the ultimate prize—a lightning-fast, hard-fighting, delicious apex predator that keeps East Coast anglers coming back season after season.