Swordfish water temperature at Cape Hatteras & Point Offshore.
Typical May SST in Cape Hatteras & Point Offshore is 68–76°F. Swordfish prefer 50–80°F with peak activity in 64–76°F.
Swordfish SST threshold
Year-round overlap with Cape Hatteras & Point Offshore SST
Where the Cape Hatteras & Point Offshore typical monthly SST band overlaps with swordfish's preferred and optimal ranges, the species is in range.
| Month | Zone SST | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 58–66°F | Peak |
| Feb | 56–64°F | Fishable |
| Mar | 58–66°F | Peak |
| Apr | 64–72°F | Peak |
| Maynow | 68–76°F | Peak |
| Jun | 74–82°F | Peak |
| Jul | 78–84°F | Fishable |
| Aug | 78–84°F | Fishable |
| Sep | 76–82°F | Fishable |
| Oct | 70–78°F | Peak |
| Nov | 64–72°F | Peak |
| Dec | 60–68°F | Peak |
April, May, October, November, December
Daytime drops to 1500+ feet on canyon structure — bathymetry over SST. Nighttime drift fishing on the surface in 64–76°F water with squid baits. Gulf Stream edge at night is the classic Mid-Atlantic pattern.
These ranges are climatological norms. Actual SST varies year over year — get an SST satellite shot the day before you run.
Live SST imagery for Cape Hatteras & Point Offshore.
Bield: Fish overlays current NOAA CoastWatch SST onto your chartplotter view and alerts you when Cape Hatteras & Point Offshore hits swordfish's optimal 64–76°F window.