Federal rules set minimum sizes for blue marlin, white marlin, roundscale spearfish, sailfish and swordfish. NOAA sets no billfish bag limit, but swordfish have per-person and per-vessel limits. Every non-tournament landing must be reported within 24 hours. This guide translates the Atlantic billfish and swordfish rules for recreational anglers from 50 CFR part 635 into plain language.
It covers sizes, limits, measuring, reporting and what changes in a registered tournament. It is not legal advice. Check NOAA’s Atlantic HMS landings updates before every trip, because sizes and closures can change in-season.
Who Sets the Rules and Which Permit You Need
NOAA Fisheries’ Atlantic Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Management Division sets federal billfish and swordfish rules under 50 CFR part 635.
In these rules, "Atlantic" includes the Gulf of America (formerly the Gulf of Mexico) and the Caribbean Sea, and the same federal rules apply in all three. Pacific billfish and swordfish fall under separate rules, covered in our Pacific HMS federal rules guide.
Permits
The vessel holds the permit, and it covers everyone aboard. Which one you need depends on how the boat is used:
- HMS Angling permit: for recreational vessels.
- HMS Charter/Headboat permit: for for-hire vessels.
- Atlantic Tunas General category or Swordfish General Commercial permit: covers billfish only while you fish in a registered tournament.
To buy or renew a permit, use the HMS permits and reporting guide. If you hold a General category permit, the Atlantic tunas federal rules cover what it allows for tunas.
Atlantic Billfish Minimum Sizes
Billfish are measured by lower jaw fork length (LJFL), a straight line from the tip of the lower jaw to the fork of the tail. The minimum size for an Atlantic blue marlin is 99 inches LJFL.
| Species | Minimum LJFL | Bag limit | Counts toward 250-fish limit | Gear |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| blue marlin | 99 in | No limit | Yes | Rod and reel only |
| white marlin | 66 in | No limit | Yes | Rod and reel only |
| roundscale spearfish | 66 in | No limit | Yes | Rod and reel only |
| sailfish | 63 in | No limit | No | Rod and reel only |
| longbill spearfish | Prohibited | None | None | None |
Swipe the table sideways to see every column.
Sailfish rules apply west of 30°W, and the sailfish minimum applies shoreward of the outer boundary of the U.S. EEZ.
NOAA can change these sizes and close the fishery in-season, and the landings-updates page shows the rule in force. It can raise the blue marlin minimum to between 117 and 138 inches, and the white marlin and roundscale spearfish minimum to between 70 and 79 inches. A change takes effect no sooner than 14 days after publication and stays in place until the end of the fishing year or until NOAA changes it again.
No Bag Limit, but Take Is Still Limited
NOAA sets no bag limit for blue marlin, white marlin, roundscale spearfish or sailfish. Three things limit the take instead:
- Minimum sizes, from the table above.
- An annual national landings limit of 250 fish for blue marlin, white marlin and roundscale spearfish combined. Sailfish are excluded.
- A catch-and-release-only closure when that limit is reached or is projected to be reached.
Two edge cases matter at the dock:
- You cannot retain a billfish if a hammerhead shark is aboard or has been offloaded from the vessel.
- Longbill spearfish is prohibited and may not be kept shoreward of the outer boundary of the EEZ.
Atlantic Swordfish Rules
The minimum size for an Atlantic swordfish is 47 inches LJFL, or 25 inches cleithrum to keel (CK) if the head is not naturally attached.
| Permit / trip type | Per person | Per vessel per trip |
|---|---|---|
| HMS Angling | 1 | 4 |
| Atlantic Tunas General, registered tournament | 1 | 4 |
| HMS Charter/Headboat, charter vessel, for-hire trip | 1 per paying passenger | 6 |
| HMS Charter/Headboat, headboat, for-hire trip | 1 per paying passenger | 15 |
| Swordfish General Commercial, registered tournament | Regional commercial limits | See HMS Commercial Compliance Guide |
Gear is handline or rod and reel. You cannot sell swordfish under an Angling permit, and Charter/Headboat permits cannot sell swordfish on for-hire trips.
A few edge cases:
- Recreational anglers may not fish for or land swordfish south of 5°N latitude.
- A shark-bitten swordfish may be kept only if the remainder still meets the minimum LJFL or CK.
- The hammerhead rule runs both ways. No swordfish, tunas or billfish may be retained with a hammerhead aboard, and no hammerhead may be retained with those species aboard.
How to Measure a Billfish or Swordfish
Measure billfish and swordfish by LJFL, a straight line from the tip of the lower jaw to the fork of the tail.
For swordfish whose head is not naturally attached, use cleithrum to keel, measured along the curve of the body. You may remove the bill up to the tip of the lower jaw, and the head still counts as attached.
Landing and Handling
Billfish must be landed whole with head, fins and bill intact. You may gut a billfish at sea, but no billfish may be sold. You may head and gut a swordfish, but you may not cut it into pieces at sea.
Reporting a Landing Outside a Tournament
Report every non-tournament billfish or swordfish landing to NOAA Fisheries within 24 hours.
- Land the fish whole, following the landing rules above.
- Report within 24 hours through one of three channels: online at the NOAA HMS catch reports page, the HMS Catch Reporting App, or by phone at (888) 872-8862.
- Tournament fish are handled separately. The tournament operator reports fish entered in a registered tournament. See the next section.
Tournament vs Non-Tournament Landings
A registered tournament changes who reports the fish and which hooks you can use. Sizes and landing rules stay the same.
Registration details are on NOAA’s Atlantic HMS tournaments page. Find it on the NOAA Fisheries site before you enter.
| Registered tournament | Outside a tournament | |
|---|---|---|
| Who reports | Tournament operator | The angler, within 24 hours |
| Hooks with natural or natural-artificial bait | Non-offset circle hooks only (tournaments awarding points, prizes or awards for billfish) | Rule stated for tournaments only |
| Hooks with artificial lures only | J-hooks, offset or non-offset circle hooks | Same as left |
| Eligible permits | HMS Angling, Charter/Headboat, or Tunas General / Swordfish General Commercial | HMS Angling or Charter/Headboat |
| Sizes, no sale, land whole | Same | Same |
A circle hook sets in the corner of the jaw instead of deeper in the throat or gut, which is meant to improve survival of released fish.
Releasing Billfish and Swordfish
Release any billfish or swordfish you don’t keep immediately, without removing it from the water. NOAA strongly encourages live release. If the fish is hooked, cut the line near the hook or use a dehooking device, and keep the fish in the water.
When State Rules Differ
Federal HMS permit holders in state waters follow federal rules unless the state rule is stricter. Federal and state limits cannot be added together.
Check your state’s saltwater regulations page before fishing.
Plan the Run
If you want a guide who knows the grounds, start with our billfish fishing guides.
Once you know the rules, you can plan the run with OBS SST and Chart Contours in Breakpoint. Chart layers are not for navigation, so check NOAA before you leave the dock.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a bag limit on marlin?
No. NOAA sets no bag limit for blue marlin, white marlin or roundscale spearfish. Minimum sizes, the 250-fish combined annual landings limit and the catch-and-release-only closure limit the take instead.
What is the swordfish size limit?
The minimum is 47 inches LJFL. If the head is not naturally attached, the minimum is 25 inches cleithrum to keel. A shark-bitten fish must still meet one of those lengths to be kept.
How do I measure LJFL?
Lower jaw fork length is a straight line from the tip of the lower jaw to the fork of the tail. Use it for billfish and for swordfish with the head naturally attached.
Do I have to report a released fish?
The rules require you to report landings within 24 hours, which means fish you keep. Fish you release must be released immediately without being removed from the water.
Do circle hooks apply outside tournaments?
The circle hook rule is stated for billfish tournaments that award points, prizes or awards. In those tournaments, natural bait or a natural-artificial combination requires non-offset circle hooks.
Can I sell a billfish or swordfish?
No. No billfish may be sold. Swordfish may not be sold under an Angling permit, and Charter/Headboat permits may not sell swordfish on for-hire trips.
Can I keep a longbill spearfish?
No. Longbill spearfish is prohibited and may not be kept shoreward of the outer boundary of the EEZ.
Do federal rules apply in state waters?
Yes, for federal HMS permit holders, unless the state rule is stricter. You cannot add federal and state limits together.