Swordfish fishing out of Fernandina Beach runs year-round on the right plan, with a fall and winter peak. Boats work deep water off the Gulf Stream, about 1,000 feet and deeper, 50 to 70-plus miles out of the inlet (Pipe Dream). Inlet, ramp and fuel details for Fernandina Beach are on the port page.
Swordfish season out of Fernandina Beach
Swordfish are available here in every season, but the odds improve in the cooler months.
Year-round, peak fall and winter
Pipe Dream fishes swordfish year-round on the right plan, with the peak in fall and winter. If you’re traveling to fish this port, plan the trip for fall or winter. For the wider coast, see the Atlantic Southeast picture (see also the Atlantic Southeast offshore fishing guide).
The run offshore
The run is a long one, and it ends in water far deeper than most local boats fish.
1,000 feet and deeper
The target depth is about 1,000+ ft, in deep water off the Gulf Stream. Pipe Dream puts the Gulf Stream break and weed lines 50 to 70-plus miles out of the inlet.
The reef ground off the inlet sits at 60 to 83 ft, and swordfish water starts at more than 10 times that depth. Check the distance against your own boat’s range before you commit.
| What | Depth (ft) |
|---|---|
| Nearshore reefs and culverts | 60 to 83 |
| Swordfish water off the Gulf Stream | 1,000+ |
A 12-hour trip
Plan a 12-hour day. Check the NWS Jacksonville marine forecast for wind, wave height and period before you go.
Watch the temperature break in OBS SST before committing to the run. Chart layers are not for navigation.
Grounds and structure
The swordfish grounds are a moving temperature break far offshore. The charted structure closer in is useful as familiar ground and as waypoints.
The Gulf Stream break and weed lines
The Gulf Stream temperature break and weed lines sit across 100 to 1,000 ft of water, 50 to 70-plus miles out of the inlet (Pipe Dream). They have no fixed position, so treat any mark as a place to start looking rather than a spot where fish are guaranteed.
The Ledge
The Ledge is a named ground near Fernandina Beach, offshore of the inlet.
Reefs and culverts near the inlet
These named, charted sites work as waypoints and familiar ground. They don’t hold swordfish.
| Site | Depth (ft) | Position |
|---|---|---|
| Captain Daddy (CD-06-#01) artificial reef | 67 | 30 25.920 N, 81 15.953 W |
| Captain Daddy (CD-06-#02) artificial reef | 67 | n/a |
| Fernandina Snapper Banks culverts (FC sites, 1988 to 1991) | 70 to 83 | Concrete culverts at about 30 36 to 30 38.7 N, 81 11 W |
| Fernandina Banks Barbett (wooden boat) and 1989 culverts | 70 | About 30 36.6 N, 81 10.6 W |
| FB-6 culverts site | 60 | About 30 39.9 N, 81 11.0 W |
| BA reef sites (BA Reef, BA Site) | 60 to 65 | n/a |
The CD-06-#01 position comes from the FWC artificial reef guide. The fixed sites are charted points; the break moves.
How swordfish are fished here
Locally, swordfish are a daytime deep-drop target, fished with electric reels and cut bait.
Daytime deep-drop
Pipe Dream fishes daytime deep-drop. Electric reels are what make 1,000+ ft practical inside a 12-hour trip. For how the fish behave at depth, see our swordfish guide.
Electric reels and cut bait
Pipe Dream uses electric reels and cut bait, and rigs the gear the day before. At 1,000+ ft there is no time to sort tackle on the water, so that work happens at the dock.
Who fishes for swordfish here
Pipe Dream Charters, run by Captain Scott Thompson, lists swordfish. Request swordfish by name so the gear is rigged the day before. The Pipe Dream home page shows a photo captioned as a swordfish caught off Amelia Island.
A charter is one way to see the local method done once before you run your own boat. Other offshore targets are covered in our billfish guides.
FAQ
When is swordfish season out of Fernandina Beach?
Year-round on the right plan, with a peak in fall and winter (Pipe Dream).
How far out do boats run?
Boats run 50 to 70-plus miles out of the inlet to the Gulf Stream break (Pipe Dream). Plan a 12-hour trip.
What depth do swordfish boats fish?
About 1,000 feet and deeper, off the Gulf Stream.
What method is used?
A daytime deep-drop with electric reels and cut bait (Pipe Dream).
Is there a local swordfish charter?
Pipe Dream Charters, Captain Scott Thompson. Request swordfish by name so the gear is rigged the day before.
Do the nearshore reefs hold swordfish?
No. The reefs and culverts are 60 to 83 ft structure. The swordfish grounds are 1,000+ ft.
