Federal rule (NOAA Highly Migratory Species) · Virginia 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
Virginia state record
VMRC Saltwater Fishing Tournament, 2025 brochure · 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 Virginia?
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 Virginia?
1 per person, up to 4 per vessel per trip (private); higher for-hire vessel caps.
When is swordfish season in Virginia?
Year-round.
What is the Virginia record swordfish?
597 lb, Norfolk Canyon (2020).
How current is this Virginia 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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