Swordfish fishing out of Fort Pierce depends on three things: the months, the depth, and the marks you pass on the way. The season runs October to December, and swordfish water starts out past 200 fathoms, which is 1,200 ft.
Boats leave through Fort Pierce Inlet (see our Fort Pierce port page). It is a long Treasure Coast run to deep water, and the named structure off the inlet sits far shallower than where you fish. Below are the season window, the depth to run to, and the charted marks you pass on the way out.
Swordfish season off Fort Pierce
The season is a three-month window, so timing is the first decision.
October to December
The Colossal Catch chart lists the Fort Pierce swordfish season as October to December. Plan the trip inside that window.
For the wider picture beyond this port, see swordfish across the Atlantic Southeast (see also the Atlantic Southeast offshore fishing guide).
| Detail | Fort Pierce |
|---|---|
| Season | October to December |
| Source | Colossal Catch chart |
| Depth to fish | Past 200 fathoms (1,200 ft) |
How far boats run
Depth sets the length of the run, and the swordfish water is deep.
Past 200 fathoms
The fishingstatus Fort Pierce page says swordfish can be caught out past 200 fathoms. That is 1,200 ft.
The named structure off the inlet sits in 120 to 180 ft or shallower. Swordfish water is the deep water well beyond it, so treat every mark on the run as a reference point rather than a destination.
For how swordfish are fished and how they behave, see our swordfish fishing guide.
Reading the deep edge
Use the Chart Contours layer to find where the bottom drops past the 200-fathom (1,200 ft) line east of the inlet. Mark the line on your plotter before you leave the dock, and plan fuel for the run out and back.
Chart layers are not for navigation. Run on official charts.
Named grounds and structure off Fort Pierce Inlet
These are the charted, named marks off the inlet. They sit far shallower than the swordfish water and work as reference points on the run offshore.
| Name | SL number | Position from inlet | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Artificial reef (no name given) | n/a | Just north of Fort Pierce Inlet | About a mile long |
| Artificial wrecks and rock areas | n/a | North of Fort Pierce Inlet | 120-180 ft of water |
| Capron Shoal | n/a | East-southeast of the inlet | Shoal |
| Pierce Shoal | SL-5 | Due south of Capron Shoal | Shoal |
| St. Lucie Shoal | SL-4 | About halfway between Fort Pierce and St. Lucie inlets | Shoal |
| USS Muliphen | SL-20 | n/a | C-2 attack cargo ship, 459 x 63 ft |
| Ft Pierce Artificial, Deep Tug | SL-22 | n/a | 155-foot steel tug |
| Ft Pierce Artificial Reef | SL-60 | n/a | Five 25 x 60 ft barge loads |
Reefs and wrecks north of the inlet
An artificial reef about a mile long sits just north of Fort Pierce Inlet. No name is given for it. Artificial wrecks and rock areas also lie north of the inlet, in 120-180 ft of water.
Capron Shoal
Capron Shoal lies east-southeast of Fort Pierce Inlet.
Pierce Shoal (SL-5)
Pierce Shoal (SL-5) lies due south of Capron Shoal.
St. Lucie Shoal (SL-4)
St. Lucie Shoal (SL-4) sits about halfway between Fort Pierce and St. Lucie inlets.
Deep Tug, USS Muliphen and SL-60
SL-22, Deep Tug, is a 155-foot steel tug. SL-20, the USS Muliphen, is a C-2 attack cargo ship, 459 x 63 ft. SL-60 is the Ft Pierce Artificial Reef, five 25 x 60 ft barge loads.
Who fishes swordfish from Fort Pierce
Colossal Catch Charter Fishing lists swordfish. The captain is Capt. Jonathon, and trips take up to 6 guests.
A local charter is one way to see swordfish fishing out of Fort Pierce before running your own boat. If you are weighing other species, see other billfish options.
FAQ: swordfish fishing out of Fort Pierce
When is the swordfish season off Fort Pierce?
October to December, per the Colossal Catch chart.
How deep is the water where swordfish are caught?
Out past 200 fathoms, which is 1,200 ft. That is well beyond the 120-180 ft structure north of the inlet.
What structure is off Fort Pierce Inlet?
Capron Shoal, Pierce Shoal (SL-5), St. Lucie Shoal (SL-4), and the SL-20, SL-22 and SL-60 artificial reefs. These are reference marks on the run, not swordfish grounds.
Is there a local swordfish charter?
Yes. Colossal Catch Charter Fishing, with Capt. Jonathon, takes up to 6 guests.
Where do I find the rules?
See the Regulations section above. The run crosses from state into federal water, so check both the state and federal pages before you fish.
