Catching Swordfish
in Gulf Shores & Orange Beach
Not too long ago, catching swordfish in the Gulf was an opportunity that occurred far from shore, at depths exceeding 1,000 feet. It was a nighttime affair, with glow lights to attract the fish, and that technique still produces plenty of fish. However, with the advent of high-powered center consoles with multiple outboards, those anglers can race to a spot and start fishing in as little as an hour or two.
Swordfish Fishing on Alabama's Beaches
Alabama Swordfish Record
Alabama Swordfish Record
That’s not to say the old, trusty technique. It worked very well last year for Robert Fritze and friends on their boat, the Trade Desk, out of Orange Beach. While his dad and buddies slept, Fritze dropped down a squid with a glow light and sat back for the usual wait. When the fish took the bait, Fritze hooked up, and the fight was on. Fritze fought the fish for 4.5 hours before it was subdued. The fish was so big that the crew had difficulty getting it into the boat. The Trade Desk headed back to Orange Beach Marina to weigh the fish, and the number 550.3 pounds illuminated on the scale to great fanfare. It is the reigning Alabama state record.
What’s the Best Bait for Swordfish?
What’s the Best Bait for Swordfish?
You may not catch a big one, although 150-200 pounders are not uncommon, but you need to be prepared to catch the big one. When it comes to tackle, you want the 50-wide offshore stuff with a 250-pound fluorocarbon leader. Squid is the most popular bait, but you can also use hardtails (blue runners), bonito bellies, and small mahi for bait. You’re going to need plenty of weights, too. Sometimes, it may take seven or eight pounds of lead to get the bait in the zone where the baitfish are showing up on the sonar. The fast boats tend to do mostly daytime fishing, and they are looking for bait along with some type of bottom structure that the swordfish like to relate to. Because swordfish move shallower at night, the daytime anglers may have to coax the fish out of deeper water.
What Are the Limits for Swordfish in Alabama?
What Are the Limits for Swordfish in Alabama?
Federal regulations for swordfish require a minimum size of 47 inches as measured from the tip of the fish’s lower jaw to the inside fork of the tail. The daily limit is one per person with a maximum of four per vessel. Also, a Federal Highly Migratory Species permit is required for private boats. Swordfish landings must be reported to NOAA Fisheries within 24 hours of returning to port.
What’s the Best Gear for Catching Swordfish?
What’s the Best Gear for Catching Swordfish?
Catching swordfish requires specialized gear, which is why I recommend a deep-sea charter boat in Orange Beach that comes equipped with everything you need. That charter trip will be an overnighter at least. If you have friends with a big center console who know how to catch them, you’re a lucky angler.
What’s the Best Way to Cook Swordfish?
What’s the Best Way to Cook Swordfish?
Swordfish is also delicious table fare. I like to take 1 to 1½-inch fillets, pop them on a hot grill, and baste them heavily with rosemary-infused butter, with a touch of salt for a fantastic fresh Gulf meal.
If you're lucky enough to snag this species, you can take your haul to a local cook-your-catch restaurant to have it prepared to your liking.
David Rainer
David Rainer has written about the great outdoors on the Alabama Gulf Coast for more than 20 years. For 14 of those years, he covered the many fishing opportunities on the Gulf Coast as outdoors editor at the Mobile Press-Register. He is past president of the Southeastern Outdoor Press Association and currently serves on the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council's Outreach and Education Advisory Panel and the Alabama Gulf Coast Reef & Restoration Foundation board.
