Federal rule (NOAA Highly Migratory Species) · Delaware lists none of its own
May not be retained if a hammerhead or oceanic whitetip shark is aboard.
NOAA HMS 2026 · checked · the official rulebook is the final word
Delaware state record
DNREC Delaware Fishing Records · checked 2026-08-23
How to tell it
Flat broad bill, huge eye, no scales or pelvic fins on adults. More on the swordfish page: every state’s rule, the records, and how anglers catch it.
Questions anglers ask5
What is the size limit for swordfish in Delaware?
47" LJFL min. Measured as lower-jaw fork length: tip of the lower jaw to the fork of the tail.
How many swordfish can you keep in Delaware?
1 per person, up to 4 per vessel per trip (private); higher for-hire vessel caps.
When is swordfish season in Delaware?
Year-round.
What is the Delaware record swordfish?
358 lb (2013).
How current is this Delaware swordfish rule?
Source: NOAA HMS 2026, last checked Sep 20, 2026. A watchman re-reads the agency's pages nightly. Rules change mid-season by proclamation; the official rulebook is the final word.
In the appPoint the camera at a swordfish in Delaware and this rule is on the screen before you take the picture. No signal needed.
Get the app