Swordfish fishing out of Martha’s Vineyard means overnight canyon trips, June through November. This briefing covers when the fish are around, where boats run, what you clear on the way out, how local boats fish it and who runs the trips. Use the Martha’s Vineyard port page for harbors and conditions. It will help you decide where and when to go, but it doesn’t promise fish.
When the swordfish are here
Swordfish are around Martha’s Vineyard June through November, per the Done Deal Charters table. The source gives one window and doesn’t name a peak month. For regional timing, canyon names and run distances, see the Atlantic Northeast swordfish picture (see also the Atlantic Northeast region guide).
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Season window | June through November |
| Trip type | Overnight canyon trips |
| Destination | The canyons |
Where boats run from the Vineyard
Vineyard boats run to the canyons for swordfish, and they run overnight. The run is the main commitment, so plan the whole trip around it, not just the fishing.
The nearest buoy is NOAA NDBC station 44020 in Nantucket Sound, at 41.497 N, 70.283 W. Check wind, wave height and period there, and read the official forecast, before you leave. Buoy 44020 reports conditions in the sound, which tells you what to expect on the way out and back. It doesn’t show sea state at the fishing grounds.
You can lay your route over Chart Contours in Breakpoint. Chart layers are not for navigation.
- Destination: the canyons
- Format: overnight
- Buoy to read: NDBC 44020, for the sound only
- Forecast: the official marine forecast, before departure
Grounds and structure on the way out
The named shoals and rips around the Vineyard are inshore structure. Boats clear them on the way to the canyons and back, and they aren’t swordfish grounds.
| Name | Location note |
|---|---|
| Middle Ground | 3 ft, north side of the Vineyard, about 2.5 NM long east to west |
| Bow Bell | Western end of Middle Ground |
| Lucas Shoal | Vineyard Sound, off Oak Bluffs and East Chop |
| Tom’s Shoal | Near Wasque, Chappaquiddick |
| Mutton Shoal | Wasque area |
| Squibnocket | West end of the Vineyard, named striped bass spot |
| Devil’s Bridge | Named striped bass spot on the Vineyard |
| Rips off Gay Head Cliffs | Western Vineyard near Aquinnah |
North side and Vineyard Sound
Middle Ground sits on the north side of the Vineyard. It carries 3 ft and runs about 2.5 NM from east to west. Bow Bell marks its western end. Lucas Shoal lies in Vineyard Sound, off Oak Bluffs and East Chop.
Wasque and Chappaquiddick
Tom’s Shoal is near Wasque, on Chappaquiddick. Mutton Shoal is in the Wasque area.
West end and Aquinnah
Squibnocket, at the west end of the Vineyard, and Devil’s Bridge are named striped bass spots, and both work as landmarks. The rips off Gay Head Cliffs are western Vineyard structure near Aquinnah.
How it is fished from the Vineyard
Locally, swordfish are fished on overnight canyon trips. For tackle, bait and behavior, see our swordfish tackle and bait coverage.
Who runs swordfish trips from the port
Two local charters list swordfish.
| Charter | Vessel | Captain |
|---|---|---|
| Captain Clarke Charters fishing trips | Femme Fatale | Not named |
| Done Deal Charters | Done Deal | Captain Canha, named on site |
A charter is one way to see the run before you take your own boat. For the wider picture, see our wider billfish guides.
FAQ: swordfish fishing out of Martha’s Vineyard
When is swordfish season off the Vineyard?
June through November, per the Done Deal Charters table.
Where do Vineyard boats go for swordfish?
To the canyons, on overnight trips.
Are the Vineyard shoals swordfish spots?
No. Middle Ground, Lucas Shoal, Wasque and the Gay Head rips are inshore structure that boats clear on the way out and back.
Which buoy should I check?
NOAA NDBC 44020 in Nantucket Sound (41.497 N, 70.283 W), for wind, wave height and period alongside the official forecast. It reports sound conditions, not canyon conditions.
Which local charters list swordfish?
Captain Clarke Charters on Femme Fatale, and Done Deal Charters on Done Deal with Captain Canha.
