SlotGaugeCheck a catchSwordfish regulations in South Carolina
Billfish · Saltwater · 2026 season
Swordfish size limit, season and daily limit
| Where | Season | Size limit | Daily limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| SC state & federal waters (HMS permit required) | Open year-round | 47 inch minimum | 1 per person per day, max 4 per vessel per trip |
Notes
- Rod & reel or handline only; a handline must stay attached to or in contact with the boat.
- For-hire (charter/headboat) vessel limits differ — see hmspermits.noaa.gov.
- Federal HMS permit required; report landings to NMFS within 24 hours.
Exact South Carolina Department of Natural Resources wording
- Season
- Open year-round (no closed season printed)
- Size
- 47-inch FL from lower jaw OR 25-inch cleithrum to caudal keel
- Limit
- 1 per person per day not to exceed 4 per vessel per trip
- SC state & federal waters (HMS permit required) — as printed
- “Swordfish | | 1 per person per day not to exceed 4 per vessel per trip | 47-inch FL from lower jaw OR 25-inch cleithrum to caudal keel | May only be taken by rod & reel and handlines. Handlines must be attached to, or remain in contact with, the vessel at all times. See https://hmspermits.noaa.gov for for-hire vessel bag limits.”
Source: South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, captured 2026-10-01 (2026 season).
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About the swordfish
Fish which has a long, pointed bill
The swordfish, also known as the broadbill in some countries, are large, highly migratory predatory fish characterized by a long, flat, sword-like, pointed bill. They are the sole member of the family Xiphiidae. They are a popular sport fish of the billfish category. Swordfish are elongated, round-bodied, and lose all teeth and scales by adulthood. These fish are found widely in tropical and temperate parts of the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans, and can typically be found from near the surface to a depth of 550 m (1,800 ft), and exceptionally up to depths of 2,878 m (9,442 ft). They commonly reach 3 m (10 ft) in length, and the maximum reported is 4.55 m in length and 650 kg (1,430 lb) in weight.
Read more about Swordfish on Wikipedia →
Text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Regulations on this page come from South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, not Wikipedia.
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Frequently asked
What is the size limit for Swordfish in South Carolina?
47 inch minimum in South Carolina state waters.
How many Swordfish can you keep per day in South Carolina?
1 per person per day, max 4 per vessel per trip.
When is Swordfish season in South Carolina?
Open year-round.
Is my Swordfish a keeper today?
A swordfish is a keeper today if it measures at least 47 inches, with a daily limit of 1.