The Largest Swordfish Ever Caught in North Carolina Was as Heavy as Two Orangutans

One of the biggest and fastest predators in the water is the swordfish. Because of their sleek bodies, they are fast swimmers and it’s believed can swim at up to speeds of 50 miles per hour. Imagining a swordfish as big and heavy as two orangutans together isn’t that hard to do. In fact, these fish are known to be quite large. They grow quickly, with the biggest swordfish measuring a maximum length of 14 feet and top weight of around 1,430 pounds. Typically, swordfish are around 10 feet long and can weigh between 50 and 400 pounds in size.

What Is a Swordfish?

Swordfish are a separate species of billfish, despite having a morphology that is comparable to marlin or sailfish. Although swordfish, a coastal fish species native to North Carolina, typically lurks down along the seafloor with the exception of the rare sunbather during daylight hours, marlin and sailfish frequently reside at the very top of the water column. 

A swordfish’s bill and eyes are both very large. Compared to sailfish or marlin, the sword-like bill is substantially wider and longer. The fish is white on the bottom and brown on top. When trying to fight it to the surface, the fish is strong due to its large body and split tail. 

North Carolina’s Largest Swordfish Ever Caught

A 13-year-old fisherman in North Carolina reeled in a swordfish so big that it made the local news! Kids that age are always wanting to try new things and with his dad being an avid fisherman, Kelson Tickle wanted to give fishing a shot! 

Michael Tickle, from Outer Banks, NC, is captain of the 67-foot Jerrett Bay vessel Wasteknot from Morehead City. However, on December 29, 2022, he set out to sea on a friend’s significantly smaller 28-foot Southport boat along with his 13-year-old son Kelson. 

Tickle’s friend Zach Grantham joined them on the trip to try swordfishing as well. Around noon about 60 miles east of Beaufort Inlet, their 20-inch rig with eel as bait and an 11/0 Mustad 7691 hook got a tug. Before rushing to the surface, the swordfish dragged 300 yards of line. 

The fishermen originally didn’t notice it. However, they managed to remove the weight off of the rope to help the fish fight after an hour or so. The fish leaped twice next to the boat while he was removing the weight. 

After that, it dropped back down into the water, and Kelson needed approximately four and a half hours to lift it to the point where Zach could shoot a dart through it. In total, it took nearly six hours for the three men to wrangle the swordfish that weighed more than two male orangutans (which can weigh up to 200 pounds).

With the assistance of friends from EJW OUTDOORS, the fishers hurried back to port and weighed the fish at Big Rock Landing in Morehead City, NC. The enormous swordfish was the largest caught in North Carolina, weighing 560 pounds and measuring 165 inches (13.75 feet) in length and 106 inches (8.8 feet) in girth.

The catch came a few months after the North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries certified a state record of a swordfish weighing 504 pounds and 8 ounces, caught by Cary Carney of Newport around 55 miles off Morehead City on August 21, 2022.

What Does Swordfish Taste Like?

Swordfish don’t taste strongly like fish. Rather, it has a delicate, lightly sweet flavor. Because of this, even people who don’t typically like fish and seafood find swordfish to be palatable. It is adaptable to a variety of marinades and sauces due to its somewhat sweet flavor. 

Many people, however, enjoy swordfish more for its distinctive meatiness and mouthfeel. Swordfish is frequently offered for sale as hard fillets that resemble steaks in density. Since it won’t come apart easily, it is simple to prepare and handle for cooking. Swordfish is perfect for grilling or pan-searing since it is less flaky than other fish varieties.

Are Swordfish Common in North Carolina?

The swordfish’s habitat is very broad. Swordfish can be captured all the way south to Florida and as far north as Nova Scotia. Although the population is uniformly spread over the Atlantic waters off the east coast, they all prefer to be in deep water far from the land. 

When fishing off the coast of North Carolina, a boat needs a federal permit for highly migratory species in order to collect swordfish. The National Marine Fisheries Service must receive reports of all billfish catches within 24 hours after the catch. 

The best option for fishermen without sturdy rods and reels spooled with 60 to 80-pound line weight and a vessel suitable for making extended trips is to rent a charter. You’ll spend more on your gear than on just one offshore swordfish trip. 

Anglers shouldn’t need to spend money on equipment if they are unable to dedicate themselves to frequently going swordfishing. Consider adding fuel costs on top since the runs may be more than 100 miles from the coast. 

A single session of fishing can cost a lot of money with no guarantee of success. See if a charter is a suitable fit for you by hiring one. After all, the average swordfish weighs a lot, so you may expect a fight. 

The photo featured at the top of this post is © SVITO-Time/Shutterstock.com