Swordfish fishing out of Shinnecock is an overnight canyon fishery. It runs roughly June through September, with October on some boats, and it is worked by troll and chunk, mainly after dark. The Shinnecock port page covers the inlet and local conditions, and the broader picture is in our swordfish guide.
When swordfish are here
Two local operators give slightly different seasons. Match their windows to your own boat and crew.
- Sea Venture: mid-June through September, best in early September
- Gusto IV: June through October on canyon overnights
Sea Venture’s window
Sea Venture runs swordfish from mid-June through September and points to early September as the best of it.
Gusto IV’s window
Gusto IV lists June through October on canyon overnights. The two windows overlap from June through September and differ at the edges.
Where boats run
Swordfish trips from this port are overnight canyon trips only. Before an overnight run, check wind, wave height and period in the official NWS marine forecast and plan from those numbers.
Overnight canyon trips
There is no day-trip format for swordfish here. The fishing happens after dark on an overnight trip.
Hudson Canyon and the shelf edge
Fin Alley names Hudson Canyon and other shelf structure for overnights. For how the runs look across the region, see our guide to Northeast canyons (see also the Atlantic Northeast region guide).
Named grounds and structure
The table lists named structure near the port, from the inlet outward. The two reefs are nearby grounds included for context; they are not swordfish grounds.
| Name | Depth | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Shinnecock Reef | 76 to 84 ft | 2.0 nautical miles south of Shinnecock Inlet |
| Twelve Mile Reef | 123 to 143 ft | 12.0 nautical miles from Moriches and Shinnecock Inlets |
The Dip and Coimbra are also named locally, and Hudson Canyon marks the shelf edge.
- The Dip
- Coimbra
- Hudson Canyon (shelf edge)
The Chart Contours layer in Breakpoint shows the depth changes along the shelf edge. Chart layers are not for navigation.
How it is fished here
Local boats fish swordfish on overnights, and the list of methods is short.
Troll and chunk
Gusto IV lists the canyon overnight as troll and chunk.
After dark
Fin Alley says swordfish are mainly targeted on overnight trips, after dark. For other offshore techniques, our billfish guides cover the wider field.
Who fishes swordfish out of Shinnecock
Three local charters list swordfish. They show how the fishery is run by people who work it regularly.
Sea Venture
Sea Venture "The Canyon Specialist" is run by Capt. Peter Stassi, and Captain Experiences lists a 40 ft boat. Its window is mid-June through September, best in early September.
Fin Alley
Fin Alley Fishing Charters is Capt. Don Archer’s 43 ft Tiara. It names Hudson Canyon and other shelf structure for overnights and fishes swordfish mainly after dark.
Gusto IV
Gusto IV Fishing Charters runs the boat Gusto IV. It fishes troll and chunk canyon overnights from June through October.
FAQ: swordfish fishing out of Shinnecock
When is the best time for swordfish out of Shinnecock?
Sea Venture points to early September as the best of its mid-June through September window. Gusto IV lists June through October on canyon overnights.
Do Shinnecock boats fish swordfish in daylight?
Local boats run swordfish on overnight canyon trips only. Fin Alley says the fish are mainly targeted after dark.
Where do boats run for swordfish from Shinnecock?
Fin Alley names Hudson Canyon and other shelf structure for overnights.
How do local boats fish for swordfish?
Gusto IV lists troll and chunk on canyon overnights. Fin Alley fishes swordfish mainly after dark.
Which charters list swordfish out of Shinnecock?
Three do: Sea Venture "The Canyon Specialist" (Capt. Peter Stassi), Fin Alley Fishing Charters (Capt. Don Archer, 43 ft Tiara) and Gusto IV Fishing Charters.
