Swordfish Fishing Charters in Key Largo
Deep-drop and night swordfishing on the edge of the deep. A true trophy fish, and the best steak in the ocean.
Book a Swordfish CharterSwordfish Fishing in the Florida Keys
Swordfishing is all about the trophy. It is a put-all-your-eggs-in-one-basket kind of day: you can fish for hours without a bite, then hook the biggest fish of your life out of nowhere. That is the trade-off for a shot at a broadbill, and it is one of the coolest fisheries we have in South Florida.
We fish them right on the last drop-off before the deep, anywhere from 1,000 to 2,000 feet of water. During the day they hold on the bottom and we deep-drop for them; at night they rise toward the surface and we drift baits up shallow. A swordfish can be a 10-pound pup or an 800-plus-pound giant, and you never know which one is on the line.
They are also outstanding on the table. We call swordfish the steak of the ocean, and it is hard to beat a fresh cut on the grill.
Good to know. Swordfish trips are a full-day commitment since we run to the edge of the deep. All tackle is included, electric reels and all, so no experience is needed to take a shot at one.
How We Fish Them
Out on the Edge of the Deep
Swordfish live on the last drop before the deep, and Captain Mike targets them two ways, day and night.
Daytime Deep-Drop
During the day the swordfish hold deep, so we drop baits to the bottom in 1,000 to 2,000 feet of water. Electric reels do the heavy cranking from that depth.
After Dark
At night the fish come up, so we drift baits near the surface, around 100 feet down. This is hands-on, hand-crank fishing where you fight the fish yourself.
A True Trophy
Swordfish run anywhere from a 10-pound pup to an 800-plus-pound giant. You never know what is going to eat, which is exactly what makes it a bucket-list fish.
Bonus From the Deep
Deep-drop days often turn up other deep-water fish too, like queen snapper, barrelfish, and yellow-eye snapper, so the cooler rarely comes home empty.
What to Expect
Plan on a full day, since reaching swordfish water means a real run offshore. It can be a patient game, with quiet stretches between bites, and then all at once it is the fight of the trip. Captain Mike runs the electric reels for the deep daytime drops and rigs up for hand-cranking on the night bite, and all the gear comes with the trip.
Because we are already fishing the deep, swordfish days pair naturally with deep-drop bottom fishing, so there is usually plenty of action between shots at the big one. Ask Captain Mike whether a day or night trip makes more sense for the season.
On the Water
Swordfish in the Boat
Book a Swordfish Charter in the Florida Keys
Deep-drop and night swordfishing out of Key Largo. A shot at the trophy of a lifetime, and the best steak in the ocean.