Swordfish

Mid-Atlantic anglers search for swordfish in deepwater areas such as the Wilmington, Baltimore, Poor Man's, Washington or Norfolk Canyons.

These structures have amazing features which produce conditions that attract several types of fish and other ocean life. West of the canyon walls are shallower but still productive areas. Near the canyon walls, the bottom becomes steeper and rockier. Fish congregate along the dropoffs to catch food that is caught in the hard running current. Along the edges are lobster traps which are marked by orange buoys or "lobster balls". The buoys attract mahi-mahi, also known as dolphin fish. Not only are the mahi-mahi excellent fish to catch, but they also attract the larger marlin which feed on them heavily. A trip by a buoy can be uneventful, or one or more lines might be attacked by mahi mahi, tuna, marlin or other fish.

Swordfish complete the trio of billfish that swim off the coast of Virginia. These fish have tremendous strength and stamina, testing the limits of the most experienced anglers. Swordfish may vary from perhaps 4-10 feet in length, reaching weights of several hundred pounds and rarely exceeding 1000 pounds. Swordfish are found in the deeper offshore waters, feeding in extreme depths during the day and coming near the surface at night. Like marlin, swordfish move with temperature changes, becoming most common in late summer and fall.

Swordfish are caught mostly at night, in the deeper areas of offshore canyons. On overnight trips, anglers typically set one or more lines at various depths. Nighttime swordfish rigs usually consist of a large circle or Southern tuna hook on a cable leader. Swordfish baits include whole squid, mackerel or other small fish. A glow stick is added to the leader a few feet above the bait. Inline weights may also be added on the line to control the depth of the bait.

When swordfish are boated, the decision to kill or release a legal sized fish is usually a matter of personal preference. The American swordfish fishery is one of the few fishery management success stories, with a recent comeback of the fish after their stocks plummeted due to overfishing. Hopefully future harvests will remain within reason and anglers will enjoy good fishing for swordfish.

Swordfish is delicious. The meat is tender, white and has a distinctive flavor, similar to wahoo. Swordfish is often served grilled or broiled.

Broiled Swordfish Parmesan

2 pounds swordfish fillets
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
3 tablespoons mayonnaise
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup butter, room temperature
3 green onions, chopped
thinly sliced lemon and parsley for garnish, optional

Place fillets in a single layer on a greased baking dish or broiler
pan; brush with lemon juice.

Combine Parmesan cheese, mayonnaise, salt, butter, and green onions in
a small bowl; set aside.

Broil flounder fillets 4 to 6 minutes, or until fish flakes easily
with a fork. Remove from oven; spread with cheese
mixture.

Broil about 30 seconds longer, or until cheese is lightly browned and bubbly.

Garnish with sliced lemon and parsley if desired.

Serves 6 to 8.

NMFS announces a final decision to issue Exempted Fishing Permits (EFP) to conduct research in portions of the East Florida Coast (EFC) and Charleston Bump closed areas using a limited number of pelagic longline (PLL) vessels and the availability of a Final Environmental Assessment (EA).

The pilot study does not modify existing PLL closed areas, reopen the closed areas to general PLL fishing activity, or propose changes to any other management measures. Based on the results of the analysis and taking into consideration the full range of public comment received on the proposed pilot study, NMFS has decided to issue EFPs to conduct research by PLL vessels in the EFC and Charleston Bump PLL closed areas.

Under the EFP Program, NMFS is authorizing three PLL vessels, only two of which will fish at any one time, to conduct an estimated 289 sets consisting of 500 hooks each, over a 12 month period. One-half of the sets will be made inside the closed areas and one-half of the sets will be made outside the closed areas.

NMFS will compare data obtained from within the closed areas to data obtained from outside the closed areas, thereby allowing the Agency to determine the relative effectiveness of the PLL closed areas under current fishery conditions and provide data which can help determine if modifications to the areas may or may not be warranted.

To effectively manage Atlantic highly migratory species resources, NMFS requires data that will allow for appropriate evaluation of existing management measures. The existing PLL closed areas are one such management tool for which data are needed for a full evaluation under current fishery conditions. No PLL fishery data has been collected in the EFC and Charleston Bump closed areas since their implementation in 2001.

All currently available data regarding catch rates and bycatch interactions from within the closed areas are pre-closure J-hook data. Significant changes have occurred in the fishery since 2001, including the rebuilding of the
North Atlantic swordfish stock and implementation of bycatch reduction measures throughout the U.S. PLL fishery (e.g., circle hook requirements, bait requirements, bycatch release gear, and protected species handling and release workshops). The existing lack of baseline PLL fishery data from within the closed areas under current fishery conditions hinders NMFS' ability to evaluate the effectiveness and impacts of existing bycatch reduction measures and fully execute its management responsibilities.

In February 2007, NMFS received a related EFP application that sought exemptions for up to 13 PLL vessels to fish in the EFC and Charleston Bump closed areas to collect data on catch and bycatch. Via the Federal Register, NMFS requested public comment (72 FR 1 1327, March 13,2007 ), and twice extended the public comment period (72 FR 18208, April 11,2007; 72 FR 25748, May, 7,2007) on that application. After considering the public comment received on the application, NMFS announced on August 9,2007 (72 FR 44835) a decision not to authorize that activity based on deficiencies within the proposal and clearly stated in the Federal Register notice that the Agency was ". . .actively considering under what circumstances and how best to conduct scientific research that is necessary to evaluate the effectiveness of current bycatchreduction measures."

Taking into account public comment received on the February 2007 EFP PLL application and other considerations, NMFS, in conjunction with academic research partners, subsequently
developed a pilot research program, including research methods and research areas, that is designed to collect data that will allow evaluation of current bycatch reduction measures under current fishery conditions.

On November 5,2007, NMFS published a notice in the Federal Register (72 FR 62441) announcing availability of, and requesting public comment on, a Draft EA for a data collection research program using two pelagic longline vessels in the EFC and Charleston Bump PLL closed areas.

NMFS received comment on a number of issues including bycatch levels, impacts on target and non-target species, study methodology, and socio-economic impacts. Based on the public comment received, NMFS improved and expanded the environmental analyses. For example, the Agency included an additional set of catch and bycatch estimates based on circle hook data in the Final EA which were not included in the Draft EA.

NMFS actively sought to limit the anticipated adverse ecological and social impacts of this program in a number of ways while still collecting usable data in a scientifically sound manner. Based on historical data, NMFS selected a portion of the EFC PLL closed area for study that had lower bycatch than other portions of the EFC PLL closed area, and where interactions with recreational fishermen are anticipated to be less frequent.

NMFS will require 1810 non-offset circle hooks because this hook type has the greatest conservation benefit of the hooks tested thus far, including for sea turtles. NMFS chose not to include the use of J-hooks in the data
collection, which limits comparability against historical data, because, at this time, the Agency can foresee no circumstances under which J-hooks would be allowed back into the PLL fishery.

Thus, there was limited value to allowing higher mortality rates on bycatch species through the use of J-hooks in the study.All vessels will be required to carry onboard personnel who are trained and certified in the release and disentanglement of protected species, as well as the release and disentanglement equipment stipulated in the Federal regulations. Further, all participating vessels will be requiredto carry NMFS certified observers at all times. As a result of these steps taken and stipulated by NMFS, the anticipated impacts, as detailed in Chapter 4 of the Final EA, are not considered to be significant.

The Final Environmental Assessment is available on the HMS Management Division website at
http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/sfa/hms by calling 301-713-2347. For additional information,
contact Russel Dunn at 727-824-5399 or Chris Rilling at 301-713-2347.

source: NOAA Atlantic HMS News

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Because swordfish is considered a highly migratory species (HMS) and populations move across oceans and national boundaries, the resource is managed both in the U.S. and at the international level.

According to a report to Congress from NOAA's Fisheries Service, issued on May 10, 2010. Atlantic swordfish, have now been rebuilt to healthy levels.

About a third of the swordfish caught in U.S. commercial fisheries in 2008 came from the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico; the rest was Pacific swordfish, where population levels are also high.