Federal rule (NOAA Highly Migratory Species) · New Jersey 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
New Jersey state record
NJ DEP Fish & Wildlife State Record Saltwater Fish · checked 2026-09-04
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 New Jersey?
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 New Jersey?
1 per person, up to 4 per vessel per trip (private); higher for-hire vessel caps.
When is swordfish season in New Jersey?
Year-round.
What is the New Jersey record swordfish?
530 lb, Wilmington Canyon (1964).
How current is this New Jersey 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.
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