Atlantic Swordfish Commercial Minimum Sizes and Retention Limits
Summary
Retention limits vary by permit type. Some permits also have different retention limits across regions. Additional requirements may be applicable. View the HMS Commercial Compliance Guide for details.
Permits without Regionally Determined Limits
Permit Type |
Fishery Status |
Minimum Size |
Retention Limit |
---|---|---|---|
Swordfish Directed |
Open |
47” lower-jaw fork length or 25” cleithrum to caudal keel |
No limit |
Swordfish Incidental |
Open |
47” lower-jaw fork length or 25” cleithrum to caudal keel |
30/vessel/trip |
Swordfish Handgear |
Open |
47” lower-jaw fork length or 25” cleithrum to caudal keel |
No limit |
HMS Commercial Caribbean Small Boat |
Open |
47” lower-jaw fork length or 25” cleithrum to caudal keel |
18/vessel/trip |
Incidental HMS Squid Trawl |
Open |
47” lower-jaw fork length or 25” cleithrum to caudal keel |
15/vessel/trip |
Swordfish General Commercial Permit or HMS Charter/Headboat Permit with a Commercial Sale Endorsement
Region |
Fishery Status |
Minimum Size |
Retention Limit |
---|---|---|---|
Northwest Atlantic |
Open |
47” lower-jaw fork length or 25” cleithrum to caudal keel |
18/vessel/trip |
U.S. Caribbean |
Open |
47” lower-jaw fork length or 25” cleithrum to caudal keel |
18/vessel/trip |
Gulf of Mexico |
Open |
47” lower-jaw fork length or 25” cleithrum to caudal keel |
18/vessel/trip |
Florida Swordfish Management Area |
Closed |
0 |
0 |
Permit
To commercially harvest swordfish, vessel owners must obtain one of the following permits:
-
Swordfish Directed permit. Vessels with this permit must also have an Atlantic Tunas Longline Category and a shark limited access permits.
-
Swordfish Incidental permit. Vessels with this permit must also have an Atlantic Tunas Longline Category and a shark limited access permits.
-
Swordfish Handgear permit.
-
HMS Commercial Caribbean Small Boat permit, which is valid only in the U.S. Caribbean region.
-
Swordfish General Commercial permit.
-
HMS Charter/Headboat permit with a commercial sale endorsement on non-for-hire trips only.
An Incidental HMS Squid Trawl permit may be obtained by valid Illex squid moratorium permit holders.
Measurement
Measure lower-jaw fork length in a straight line from the tip of the lower jaw to the fork of the tail.

Measure cleithrum to caudal keel length by following the curve of the fish's body from the cleithrum to the caudal keel.
