<PAGE>

                                    FORM 10-Q



                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                             Washington, D.C. 20549


            [ X ] QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF
                       THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

                  For the quarterly period ended March 31, 1998

                                       OR

            [ ] TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF
                       THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

            For the transition period from _________________ to_________________

                       Commission File number 33-11773-04


                    SWIFT ENERGY INCOME PARTNERS 1988-A, LTD.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

<TABLE>
<S>                                           <C>
                  Texas                                   76-0247812
(State or other jurisdiction of organization) (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
</TABLE>


                        16825 Northchase Drive, Suite 400
                              Houston, Texas 77060
                    (Address of principal executive offices)
                                   (Zip Code)

                                  (281)874-2700
              (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)

                                      None
              (Former name, former address and former fiscal year,
                          if changed since last report)


Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant (1) has filed all reports required
to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during
the  preceding 12 months (or for such  shorter  period that the  Registrant  was
required  to file  such  reports),  and  (2) has  been  subject  to such  filing
requirements for the past 90 days.

Yes  X      No
   ----       ----



<PAGE>

                    SWIFT ENERGY INCOME PARTNERS 1988-A, LTD.

                                      INDEX


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
PART I.    FINANCIAL INFORMATION                                      PAGE
      <S>                                                               <C>
      ITEM 1.    Financial Statements

            Balance Sheets

                - March 31, 1998 and December 31, 1997                  3

            Statements of Operations

                - Three month periods ended March 31, 1998 and 1997     4

            Statements of Cash Flows

                - Three month periods ended March 31, 1998 and 1997     5

            Notes to Financial Statements                               6

      ITEM 2.    Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial
                     Condition and Results of Operations                7

PART II.    OTHER INFORMATION                                           9


SIGNATURES                                                              10
</TABLE>



<PAGE>

                    SWIFT ENERGY INCOME PARTNERS 1988-A, LTD.
                                 BALANCE SHEETS



<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                          March 31,          December 31,
                                                                                            1998                 1997
                                                                                       ---------------     ----------------
                                                                                        (Unaudited)
         <S>                                                                           <C>                  <C>           
         ASSETS:

         Current Assets:
              Cash and cash equivalents                                                $      222,596       $      259,688
              Oil and gas sales receivable                                                    390,007              133,502
                                                                                       ---------------     ----------------
                   Total Current Assets                                                       612,603              393,190
                                                                                       ---------------     ----------------

         Gas Imbalance Receivable                                                               6,712                7,164
                                                                                       ---------------      ---------------

         Oil and Gas Properties, using full cost
              accounting                                                                    9,531,747            9,791,171
         Less-Accumulated depreciation, depletion
              and amortization                                                             (8,590,663)          (8,559,288)
                                                                                       ---------------     ----------------
                                                                                              941,084            1,231,883
                                                                                       ---------------     ----------------
                                                                                       $    1,560,399       $    1,632,237
                                                                                       ===============     ================


         LIABILITIES AND PARTNERS' CAPITAL:

         Current Liabilities:
              Accounts Payable                                                         $       71,099       $       54,029
                                                                                       ---------------     ----------------

         Deferred Revenues                                                                     38,208               38,404

         Limited Partners' Capital (107,396.06 Limited Partnership Units;
                                    $100 per unit)                                          1,429,341            1,506,632
         General Partners' Capital                                                             21,751               33,172
                                                                                       ---------------      ---------------
                  Total Partners' Capital                                                   1,451,092            1,539,804
                                                                                       ---------------     ----------------
                                                                                       $    1,560,399       $    1,632,237
                                                                                       ===============     ================
</TABLE>


                 See accompanying notes to financial statements.

                                        3


<PAGE>


                    SWIFT ENERGY INCOME PARTNERS 1988-A, LTD.
                            STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
                                   (Unaudited)



<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                          Three Months Ended
                                                                                               March 31,
                                                                                 ---------------------------------
                                                                                        1998             1997
                                                                                 ---------------   ---------------
         <S>                                                                     <C>               <C>
         REVENUES:
             Oil and gas sales                                                   $        78,470   $       225,095
             Interest income                                                               3,015                 9
             Other                                                                           526             1,023
                                                                                 ---------------   ---------------
                                                                                          82,011           226,127
                                                                                 ---------------   ---------------
         COSTS AND EXPENSES:
             Lease operating                                                              28,693            68,076
             Production taxes                                                              1,873             9,722
             Depreciation, depletion
               and amortization                                                           31,375            59,617
             General and administrative                                                   28,559            23,612
             Interest expense                                                                 --             1,236
                                                                                 ---------------   ---------------
                                                                                          90,500           162,263
                                                                                 ---------------   ---------------
         NET INCOME (LOSS)                                                       $        (8,489)  $        63,864
                                                                                 ===============   ===============
</TABLE>


         Limited Partners' net income (loss)
             per unit

         March 31, 1998                       $          (.08)
                                              ===============
         March 31, 1997                       $           .59
                                               ==============


                 See accompanying note to financial statements.

                                        4


<PAGE>

                    SWIFT ENERGY INCOME PARTNERS 1988-A, LTD.
                            STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
                                   (Unaudited)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                            Three Months Ended
                                                                                                 March 31,
                                                                                ---------------------------------------
                                                                                       1998                  1997
                                                                                -----------------       ---------------
<S>                                                                             <C>                     <C>
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
    Income (loss)                                                               $         (8,489)       $        63,864
    Adjustments to reconcile income (loss) to
      net cash provided by operations:
      Depreciation, depletion and amortization                                            31,375                 59,617
      Change in gas imbalance receivable
          and deferred revenues                                                              256                     --
      Change in assets and liabilities:
        (Increase) decrease in oil and gas sales receivable                             (256,505)               (45,454)
        Increase (decrease) in accounts payable                                           17,070                (26,374)
                                                                                ----------------         --------------
               Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities                      (216,293)                51,653
                                                                                ----------------         --------------
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
    Additions to oil and gas properties                                                   (2,892)                (6,083)
    Proceeds from sales of oil and gas properties                                        262,316                     --
                                                                                ----------------         --------------
                Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities                      259,424                 (6,083)
                                                                                ----------------         --------------
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
    Cash distributions to partners                                                       (80,223)               (46,563)
                                                                                ----------------         --------------
NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS                                     (37,092)                  (993)
                                                                                ----------------         --------------
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT BEGINNING OF PERIOD                                         259,688                  1,993
                                                                                ----------------         --------------
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT END OF PERIOD                                      $        222,596        $         1,000
                                                                                ================        ===============
  Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
    Cash paid during the period for interest                                    $             --        $         1,236
                                                                                ================        ===============
</TABLE>


                 See accompanying notes to financial statements


                                       5


<PAGE>

                    SWIFT ENERGY INCOME PARTNERS 1988-A, LTD.
                          NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                                   (UNAUDITED)



(1)  General Information -

                  The financial statements included herein have been prepared by
        the  Partnership  and are  unaudited  except  for the  balance  sheet at
        December  31,  1997  which has been  taken  from the  audited  financial
        statements at that date. The financial  statements reflect  adjustments,
        all of which  were of a  normal  recurring  nature,  which  are,  in the
        opinion  of  the  managing   general   partner   necessary  for  a  fair
        presentation.  Certain  information  and footnote  disclosures  normally
        included in financial  statements  prepared in accordance with generally
        accepted  accounting  principles have been omitted pursuant to the rules
        and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission  ("SEC").  The
        Partnership  believes adequate disclosure is provided by the information
        presented.  The financial  statements should be read in conjunction with
        the audited  financial  statements  and the notes included in the latest
        Form 10-K.

(2)  Gas Imbalances -

                  The Partnership  recognizes its ownership  interest in natural
        gas  production as revenue.  Actual  production  quantities  sold may be
        different than the  Partnership's  ownership share in a given period. If
        the  Partnership's  sales exceed its ownership share of production,  the
        differences are recorded as deferred revenue. Gas balancing  receivables
        are  recorded  when the  Partnership's  ownership  share  of  production
        exceeds sales.

(3)  Vulnerability Due to Certain Concentrations -

                  The  Partnership's  revenues are primarily the result of sales
        of its oil and natural gas production.  Market prices of oil and natural
        gas may fluctuate and adversely affect operating results.

                  In the normal  course of  business,  the  Partnership  extends
        credit,  primarily in the form of monthly oil and gas sales receivables,
        to various  companies  in the oil and gas  industry  which  results in a
        concentration  of credit risk. This  concentration of credit risk may be
        affected by changes in economic or other  conditions and may accordingly
        impact the  Partnership's  overall  credit risk.  However,  the Managing
        General  Partner  believes  that  the  risk is  mitigated  by the  size,
        reputation, and nature of the companies to which the Partnership extends
        credit.  In  addition,   the  Partnership  generally  does  not  require
        collateral or other security to support customer receivables.

(4)  Fair Value of Financial Instruments -

                  The Partnership's  financial  instruments  consist of cash and
        cash equivalents and short-term  receivables and payables.  The carrying
        amounts  approximate  fair value due to the highly  liquid nature of the
        short-term instruments.


                                       6


<PAGE>

                    SWIFT ENERGY INCOME PARTNERS 1988-A, LTD.
                MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL
                       CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS


General

         The  Partnership  was formed for the purpose of  investing in producing
oil and gas properties located within the continental United States. In order to
accomplish  this,  the  Partnership  goes through two  distinct yet  overlapping
phases  with  respect  to its  liquidity  and  result  of  operations.  When the
Partnership  is formed,  it commences its  "acquisition"  phase,  with all funds
placed in short-term  investments until required for such property acquisitions.
The interest  earned on these  pre-acquisition  investments  becomes the primary
cash flow source for initial partner distributions.  As the Partnership acquires
producing   properties,   net  cash  from  operations   becomes   available  for
distribution,  along with the investment  income.  After  partnership funds have
been expended on producing oil and gas properties,  the  Partnership  enters its
"operations" phase. During this phase, oil and gas sales generate  substantially
all revenues,  and  distributions  to partners  reflect those  revenues less all
associated  partnership expenses.  The Partnership may also derive proceeds from
the sale of acquired oil and gas properties, when the sale of such properties is
economically appropriate or preferable to continued operation.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

         Oil  and  gas  reserves  are  depleting   assets  and  therefore  often
experience   significant   production  declines  each  year  from  the  date  of
acquisition  through the end of the life of the property.  The primary source of
liquidity to the  Partnership  comes almost  entirely from the income  generated
from the sale of oil and gas produced  from  ownership  interests in oil and gas
properties.  Net  cash  provided  by  (used  in)  operating  activities  totaled
$(216,293)  and  $51,653  for the three  months  ended  March 31, 1998 and 1997,
respectively.  This source of liquidity and the related  results of  operations,
and in turn cash  distributions,  will decline in future  periods as the oil and
gas produced from the properties also declines while  production and general and
administrative  costs  remain  relatively  stable  making it  unlikely  that the
Partnership  will hold the properties  until they are fully  depleted,  but will
likely liquidate when a substantial majority of the reserves have been produced.
The Partnership has expended all of the partner's net commitments  available for
property  acquisitions  and  development  by  acquiring  producing  oil  and gas
properties.  The partnership  invests  primarily in proved producing  properties
with nominal  levels of future costs of development  for proven but  undeveloped
reserves.  Significant  purchases of additional  reserves or extensive  drilling
activity are not anticipated. Cash distributions totaled $80,223 and $46,563 for
the three months ended March 31, 1998 and 1997, respectively.

         The  Partnership  does not allow for  additional  assessments  from the
partners to fund capital requirements.  The Managing General Partner anticipates
that the  Partnership  will have adequate  liquidity from income from continuing
operations  to  satisfy  any  future  capital  expenditure  requirements.  Funds
generated  from  bank  borrowings  and  proceeds  from  the  sale of oil and gas
properties will be used to supplement this effort if deemed necessary.

Results of Operations

         Oil and gas sales declined  $146,625 or 65 percent in the first quarter
of 1998 when  compared to the  corresponding  quarter in 1997,  primarily due to
decreased gas and oil prices. A decline in gas prices of 47 percent or $1.67/MCF
and in oil  prices  of 44  percent  or  $8.10/BBL  had a  significant  impact on
partnership  performance.  Also, current quarter gas and oil production declined
40 percent and 31 percent,  respectively,  when  compared to first  quarter 1997
production   volumes,   further   contributing   to  decreased   revenues.   The
partnership's  sale  of  several  properties  in  1997  had an  impact  on  1998
partnership production volumes.

         Associated depreciation expense decreased 47 percent or $28,242 in 1998
compared  to first  quarter  1997,  also  related to the  decline in  production
volumes.

                                       7


<PAGE>

                    SWIFT ENERGY INCOME PARTNERS 1988-A, LTD.
                MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL
                       CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS



         The  Partnership  records  an  additional  provision  in  depreciation,
depletion and amortization when the present value, discounted at ten percent, of
estimated future net revenues from oil and gas properties,  using the guidelines
of the  Securities  and  Exchange  Commission,  was below the fair market  value
originally paid for oil and gas properties.  Using prices in effect at March 31,
1997, the Partnership  would have recorded an additional  provision at March 31,
1997 in the amount of  $162,767.  However,  these  temporarily  low  quarter-end
prices  rebounded  and by  using  prices  in  effect  at the  filing  date,  the
Partnership's  unamortized  cost of oil and gas  properties  were not limited by
this calculation

         During 1998,  partnership revenues and costs will be shared between the
limited partners and general partners in a 90:10 ratio.


                                       8


<PAGE>

                    SWIFT ENERGY INCOME PARTNERS 1988-A, LTD.
                           PART II - OTHER INFORMATION




ITEM 5.    OTHER INFORMATION


                                     -NONE-




                                       9


<PAGE>


                                   SIGNATURES



Pursuant to the  requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities  Exchange
Act of 1934,  the  Registrant  has duly  caused  this report to be signed on its
behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.


                                            SWIFT ENERGY INCOME
                                            PARTNERS 1988-A, LTD.
                                            (Registrant)

                                 By:        SWIFT ENERGY COMPANY
                                            Managing General Partner


Date:     May 5, 1998            By:        /s/ John R. Alden
          -----------                       ---------------------------------
                                            John R. Alden
                                            Senior Vice President, Secretary
                                            and Principal Financial Officer

Date:     May 5, 1998            By:        /s/ Alton D. Heckaman, Jr.
          -----------                       ---------------------------------
                                            Alton D. Heckaman, Jr.
                                            Vice President, Controller
                                            and Principal Accounting Officer


                                       10