Swordfish water temperature at Norfolk & Washington Canyons.
Typical May SST in Norfolk & Washington Canyons is 60–70°F. Swordfish prefer 50–80°F with peak activity in 64–76°F.
Swordfish SST threshold
Year-round overlap with Norfolk & Washington Canyons SST
Where the Norfolk & Washington Canyons typical monthly SST band overlaps with swordfish's preferred and optimal ranges, the species is in range.
| Month | Zone SST | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 48–58°F | Fishable |
| Feb | 48–56°F | Fishable |
| Mar | 50–60°F | Fishable |
| Apr | 54–64°F | Fishable |
| Maynow | 60–70°F | Peak |
| Jun | 68–78°F | Peak |
| Jul | 72–82°F | Peak |
| Aug | 74–84°F | Peak |
| Sep | 70–80°F | Peak |
| Oct | 64–72°F | Peak |
| Nov | 56–64°F | Fishable |
| Dec | 50–60°F | Fishable |
May, June, July, September, October
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 Norfolk & Washington Canyons.
Bield: Fish overlays current NOAA CoastWatch SST onto your chartplotter view and alerts you when Norfolk & Washington Canyons hits swordfish's optimal 64–76°F window.