| Southeast Florida Swordfishing - "Purple Fever" | | | | is used to bridle your live bait. It is a loop that is about 6 |
| Once you have your tackle ready to go, let us | | | | inches in diameter made out of rigging floss. Attach |
| describe a typical drift out in South Florida's Gulf | | | | that bridle to the hook and you are set. Attach your |
| Stream. We are basing this drift using 4 lines. Some of | | | | live bait rig to your rods ball bearing swivel. At the |
| your center console fisherman may be able to fish 5 | | | | swivel top circle you want to also attach 1 electralume |
| or even 6 rods, but we believe 4 rods is sufficient and | | | | and a flasher at your discretion. This helps to make |
| will cover the fathoms needed to catch that broadbill | | | | your bait visible to the swords. |
| you have dreamed of. Swordfishing off the southeast | | | | Lets rig your other 3 rods for a dead bait. A swordfish |
| coast of Florida has really taken a turn for the better. | | | | favorite is the squid. There are a number of ways to |
| We are experiencing a fish size of 75-100lb on | | | | rig a dead squid, but the best method is to have the |
| average. Although we are deemed to be the breeding | | | | hook exposed half way down the mantle. We find this |
| grounds and anglers routinely catch "Pups", we have | | | | much more effective that placing the hook down by |
| our share of three-hundred pound plus fish move | | | | the eyes of the squid. . Once you have all four rods |
| through. November thru January is usually some of our | | | | ready to be deployed, get out your jugs and weights, |
| best months, as the water temperature is cooler. But | | | | along with copper/telephone wire. Have the gaff ready |
| with all good comes some bad. The seas are usually | | | | to be deployed as some days you may drop the baits |
| much rougher this time of year. In the summer time, | | | | right into swordfish territory. We don't know how many |
| we don't see as much action, but we still get our share. | | | | times we seem to drop a bait right on a swordfish. |
| This is a year-round fishery and will be around for a | | | | Tip* If you like to take your time in setting up, that's fine. |
| long time as long as we don't abuse it. We ask that | | | | Go ahead and put out a flatline while getting your other |
| you please report you fish! Please report your catches | | | | rods ready. This way if you have a curious sword |
| and releases. We know you are not required to report | | | | come to the boat, you atleast have a bait in the water. |
| a release, but by reporting that we are routinely | | | | We have seen them come into the light on numerous |
| catching the numbers, lessens the chances of | | | | occasions. If you don't have a bait in the water, most |
| commercial fisherman entering our waters. We cannot | | | | likely they will just leave. |
| stress enough how important it is to report our catch. | | | | Setting up your first Drift |
| We also want to practice safety especially while night | | | | Drifting for swordfish is very very effective. Providing |
| fishing. We suggest that each angler on your boat | | | | that you have your baits staggered, your chances of |
| carries a glowstick and whistle in his/her pocket. This | | | | catching a South Florida Sword are very good! Now |
| way if they were to accidentally fall over, you would | | | | that you have 4 rods that are ready to be deployed, |
| have a means of finding them. Another strong point is | | | | lets get some lines in the water. Once you find your |
| no sleeping! Cargo ships constantly are running through | | | | desired area to fish, shut off all engines. Here you will |
| the swordfish grounds and if you are sleeping and | | | | analyze your drift. You can deploy a sea anchor if you |
| they are on autopilot, trouble could be approaching. We | | | | think you are going to need it. Once you are satisfied |
| have had some close calls to where we actually had | | | | with the direction and speed of your drift, get the first |
| to pick up and move to avoid a collision course with | | | | line out. As a general rule of thumb, get your longest |
| some freighters. Bottom line, if you want to sleep stay | | | | lines out first, meaning jug/balloon baits. Check out our |
| home. | | | | forums and communicate with fellow swordfish |
| Now lets fish! | | | | anglers regarding everything mentioned here. You may |
| Locating The Swordfish Grounds: | | | | even find out what depth the fish were biting out the |
| As you may know swordfishing takes place at night, | | | | night before. But a general rule of thumb is on a New |
| as they are primarily nocturnal feeders. Leaving the | | | | Moon, you fish the baits shallower. And on a full bright |
| dock in the late evening hours and coming back to the | | | | moon, you fish them deeper. Tip* Be sure to have a |
| dock after midnight is the standard, depending on the | | | | bait at 100 feet and 300 feet. These 2 depths are |
| time of the sunset. Calm seas have much to do with | | | | critical. Once you get a bite on one, you can adjust |
| the decision of when to go out. Swordfish can be | | | | your other rods accordingly. |
| caught when it is rough or calm, but we must think | | | | With the first rod, attach the live bait rig, along with |
| safety first. The combination of a gps and good | | | | your electralume and flasher. Then take about 12 |
| fishfinder is essential when finding good solid structure | | | | inches of telephone wire or a #64 rubber band and |
| to start your drift. Off the South Florida coast, our | | | | attach a 32-ounce weight to the swivels top circle. |
| sword grounds are generally between longitude | | | | Wrap the telephone wire about 6 times and pull to |
| 79-51W and 79-49W. This is roughly 15-18 miles off our | | | | ensure it breaks away. Put it back on and let your bait |
| coastline. A fishfinder that goes to at least 1500 feet is | | | | down to desired depth. For this exercise, we will go |
| very beneficial; as you will see the canyons and | | | | 300 feet on the first line. Once the 300-foot marker on |
| structures that hold the bait, hence attract swordfish. | | | | the line comes up, attach your jug or balloon to the |
| *Tip - If you want to find the fish, set your fish finder | | | | loop you left in the waxline using telephone wire. You |
| range to just 100ft and you will find bait such as Tinker | | | | can attach the balloon or jug using telephone wire or a |
| Mackeral or Sardines. Where there is bait, there is | | | | small rubber band. Again, test to make sure it breaks |
| Sword! Swordfish are known to roam these deep | | | | away when pressure is applied by fish. Let the float |
| depths around ridges and valleys. With the two | | | | out about 50-80 yards from the boat. Don't forget to |
| combined units you are already ahead of the game. | | | | put a glowstick into your jug for visibility. |
| Radar is also an important piece of equipment, but not | | | | Do the same to the second rod, but this time go to |
| absolutely necessary. Once you are satisfied with your | | | | 200ft and let it out on the jug/balloon about 30 yards. It |
| location, you want to spend the next 5-20 minutes | | | | is very important to test different depths by the 100's. |
| figuring out your drift. The drift is a very important | | | | Don't forget to attach a lightstick to the jug/balloon for |
| aspect. If you have heard that the bite is strong along | | | | visibility. Once you have the 2 lines out on the jugs, lets |
| the 79-50W line, you want to make sure you are | | | | move to your tip rods. The tip rods are called tip rods |
| drifting on this line. A top-notch sea anchor can work | | | | because that is exactly what they are. You will see |
| to keep you in this zone. Deploy your sea anchor off | | | | the tip of the rod bounce heavily when a fish is |
| the boats center cleat for the best drift. But maybe, | | | | slashing the bait. These rods are being fished right at |
| the bite is fluctuating from the west 48 lines to the 51 | | | | the boat at varying depths. Apply the same rigs as |
| lines. In this case you would want to drift over and | | | | mentioned above and set these rods at 150 feet and |
| over these grounds. Turn on your vhf or check out our | | | | 100 feet. These will be your most active rods, as they |
| reports to see where the most action is for the night | | | | are in the direct light of the boat. |
| you are going out. With the proper drift you can stay in | | | | Now that you have 4 lines in the water, lets get your |
| the zone all night and have baits soaking for the | | | | 4ft light out and put it on the opposite side of the boat, |
| majority of the night. Don't be in a rush to put the baits | | | | to avoid direct light into your eyes. Turn off all boat |
| out. Take your time and factor the wind and current | | | | lights and sit back and listen to your rods. Check all |
| and decide, "Am I going to push in shallow or out deep". | | | | lines as needed. If you don't have any action within 30 |
| Which side of the boats are the lines going to be on? | | | | minutes to an hour, start by checking your tip rods. If |
| How much wait should I be using to get my baits to | | | | the baits have been slashed than bring in your balloon |
| the desired depth? How fast will my drift be? All these | | | | jug rods and re-bait. The 4ft green light can be a very |
| factors are worth considering before you turn off the | | | | important piece of the puzzle when swordfishing. We |
| engines and decide where you are going to ride out a | | | | have had bait by the dozens including bar jacks, flying |
| drift. | | | | fish, and dolphin come to the light. With the bait we |
| Tackling Broadbills:Although a live bait seems ideal | | | | have seen swordfish follow right behind them. When |
| when setting out to catch any gamefish, don't rule out | | | | swordfishing you want to have your best game turned |
| your dead baits! Bobby Boyle of RJ Boyle Studios | | | | on. Without the light at the boat you might as well stay |
| came out with a shirt that says, "Live Bait Sux". Bobby | | | | home. We deem this light very effective. Think about |
| definitely has a point when it comes to swordfish. As a | | | | when you see a boats navigation lights about 10 miles |
| beginner in swordfishing, we suggest sticking to just | | | | away. Imagine a swordfish. Their eyes are enormous |
| one live bait and the rest dead baits such as squid. | | | | and we bet can see much better than we think. This |
| You ensure a much better hookset when using a | | | | could be the difference between a fun-filled night and |
| dead-bait, and your strikes will definitely not suffer from | | | | a very frustrating night. Check out the forums for |
| not using live-bait! Your sole livebait can be fished just | | | | more information on the secrets and tips. |
| under the boat around 85 feet down. It will blend in with | | | | Fish On? Now What? |
| the other baits that have congregated around your | | | | Once you hear the drag being taken out or you see a |
| boat. | | | | fish surfacing, you want to jump on that rod fast. Each |
| Lets discuss rigging your rods. We use mostly 50 | | | | rod should have a different color light that distinguishes |
| wides, but have a few 80's that are ready for that big | | | | it from your other rods. The enables you to determine |
| wintertime swordfish. A 50w is plenty sufficient for | | | | which rod the fish is on. You should of had your drag |
| swordfish. With the invention of hollow-core braid, guys | | | | set at practically nothing, just enough to keep the bait |
| can load their 30's with the over 700 yards and be | | | | from taking off line. Get on the rod and start cranking |
| able to fish their light tackle rods for broadbills. When | | | | until you get tight on the fish. Once tight, start increasing |
| spooling the reels we suggest marking the last 400 | | | | the drag until you hit about 8-16 pounds of drag. Too |
| feet of your line. Mark the line using waxline half | | | | much drag may cause the hook to rip from the soft |
| stitches. This will enable you to easily drop your baits | | | | mouths of these fish. The hook will automatically set |
| to the desired depth without having to count every | | | | and you are in for a fight of a lifetime. Have a buddy |
| time you setup. A counter can be used to count off | | | | put the belt on you, so you can stand up and fight the |
| the desired feet. If you can leave a loop in the waxline | | | | fish properly. Do not arch forward or your back will |
| marker on your line, this would be ideal. Later on we | | | | begin to hurt very quickly. Do not rush the fish. These |
| will teach you how to tie the balloon or jug to that loop | | | | fish get in excess of 400lbs and have been known to |
| in the waxline. It is very important to make sure the | | | | keep anglers on the wind for over 8 hours! Once the |
| waxline does not slip! Your first knot that will be used | | | | fish is at the boat, it is ideal to have one guy handline |
| on your mainline is the popular bimini twist (about 5 ft). | | | | the leader and another guy with the gaff. We also |
| The knot acts as a shock absorber and is very | | | | suggest using wind-on leaders. This will help avoid the |
| beneficial to the rig. Take your bimini twist right to the | | | | dangers of hand-lining a big fish. A swordfish has to be |
| ball bearing snap swivel and tie an offshore knot. Have | | | | at least 47 inches to keep. So before hitting it with the |
| this combination on all four of your rods. | | | | gaff, you want to decide if you are keeping the fish or |
| Lets discuss your rigs. We first start out by measuring | | | | not. We recommend not keeping a fish under 60 |
| 15 feet of 200lb - 400lb mono leader. On the top end | | | | inches. This will help the bounce back of the swordfish |
| we crimp a loop using a nylon thimble so that we can | | | | industry. If you do decide to keep the fish, you want to |
| attach it to our ball bearing snap swivel with ease. On | | | | gaff the fish right in the gill plate to avoid ruining the |
| the other end, crimp a 8/0 - 11/0 hook. Make sure the | | | | meat. Always wear tough leather gloves, as the bill is |
| hook is very sharp, if not sharpen it. You should be | | | | very sharp. *Tip - Keep your hands together when |
| able to press it against your finger nail and make a | | | | leadering the fish. This will help avoid the dangers of |
| nice dent. On the hook you want to place a bridle that | | | | hand lining the fish. |