Daytime swording tips?

[Captain Michael Buffington]

to the fish gods...hope it works

Mike

[bigg09]

I understand what you are saying about the breakaway system. I never thought of that and was wondering how things would work with a 300lber and a 20lb weight. I made a route down the center of this narrow canyon starting at 900' and ending at 2200' all in about a 1/2 a mile. I also have one where I would be on the wall in the same canyon. I am torn between which to start on and really have nothing but guesses. I'm 100% at night in this canyon since I started using bathymetric charts Jim Sea Draggin refered me to with 4 drifts and 6 bites and 4 swords and 1 hammerhead. What do you guys think? By the way Casey, I'm in Louisiana

Mike

Sorry about the mix up on location, I guess i confused you with another post, but i think the logic is still sound. If it were me, pound the area where you fish for them at night. that has definately worked for us. don't be afraid to start a little shallower. I am assuming that you all have similar current down there to us on the mid atlantic out of the stream. if you are fishing deeper water, the extra weight will definately help to keep down with the scope. i would also suggest using a little ( and i mean little) heavier line on the breakaway. While planning a drift is great, it doesn't always work that way due to the wind,tide. just pick a general area and some spots you want and drift to get there based on the conditions. with daytime fishing and not in the stream, you are kinda at the mercy of the wind & tide. moving around greatly increases the odds of tangles and make sure you are drifting down or across the wall to avoid snags.

[HOLWACHAGOT]

I was wondering when Casey would chime in.
Good stuff bro.
Holwachagot

[ReelProShop]

They are 651's I think. They have two sets of different sizes. The current varies and the depth I am fishing is 900 to 1500 at night. I drift over a little canyon that goes 900-2000-900 and then a gradual slope to 2300. I had planned on fishing that same area depending on sst's. Your thoughts? Do you take sst's into account? I never did until recently after talking to an east coast longliner.

Oh yeah...one more question. If I miss one down there can I drop the second as I retrieve the first?

Mike

Sorry for the delay... been swamped with issue at home.

Certainly bring the two reels. If one fails, you have a backup. I wouldn't drop one while picking up the other until you get it all figured out. WE do catch fish on the way up and sometimes, you get your rig to the boat only to then find you have a hooked fish and then it gets really exiciting!

Mississippi Canyon area is one to check out

When I was there, you guys didn't have very much current at all. So you might have to bump around to cover ground. Once you try this, report back or call me and we can talk about it. Then I can post a recap for that others that are checking this out.

SSTs and temps at depth are important for longlineing. It's something we don't even think about when daytime Swordfishing though.

Keep your cookie trail turned on the GPS. If you get a bite, mark it! Then go back and do the same drift again. We typically maintain a 2mph COG to the north (direction of the stream) so I'll re-drop about 1/3 mile ahead of the mark so I can get down in time to be in the zone. If you have very little current, you might just be able to drop right on the mark or close to it to hook up again.

We dont' break our lead off. We are using 60# Jerry Brown hollowcore with 8/10lbs of lead to 10/12 or 15lbs on the 130# hollowcore to hold bottom.

Did you see the article in Saltwater Sportsman? That will really help you get a good idea what we are doing.

Let me know how you do.. or did.

-Tek

[Captain Michael Buffington]

Sorry for the delay... been swamped with issue at home.

Certainly bring the two reels. If one fails, you have a backup. I wouldn't drop one while picking up the other until you get it all figured out. WE do catch fish on the way up and sometimes, you get your rig to the boat only to then find you have a hooked fish and then it gets really exiciting!

Mississippi Canyon area is one to check out

When I was there, you guys didn't have very much current at all. So you might have to bump around to cover ground. Once you try this, report back or call me and we can talk about it. Then I can post a recap for that others that are checking this out.

SSTs and temps at depth are important for longlineing. It's something we don't even think about when daytime Swordfishing though.

Keep your cookie trail turned on the GPS. If you get a bite, mark it! Then go back and do the same drift again. We typically maintain a 2mph COG to the north (direction of the stream) so I'll re-drop about 1/3 mile ahead of the mark so I can get down in time to be in the zone. If you have very little current, you might just be able to drop right on the mark or close to it to hook up again.

We dont' break our lead off. We are using 60# Jerry Brown hollowcore with 8/10lbs of lead to 10/12 or 15lbs on the 130# hollowcore to hold bottom.

Did you see the article in Saltwater Sportsman? That will really help you get a good idea what we are doing.

Let me know how you do.. or did.

-Tek

on the overnighter and drew a blank for the nightime swords. We did manage a nice white marlin and a wahoo on the spreader bar from Cpt. Fred. The guys cancelled for Sunday so I'm going to have to reschedule this little endeavor. Cpt. Mike Ellis got one during the day last week out of Venice. I did see the saltwater sportsman article and I also read a really good one in The Edge. Thanks Tek, Casey, and all the rest of you guys. I really appreciate the help!

Mike

[Sea Draggin]

I was going to call you last night to see how it turned out. AT least you were able to go, these storms blow for us.

[Captain Fred Archer]

Unlike some threads, there's a pile of great, accurate advice here from some folks who know whereof they speak. It's a great read and it's also good to see an open minded fisherman like Michael picking up so fast and so well on what to him is a new technique. Hats off to all!

One little suggestion. Day or night, I always fish my small, giant squid strips, fillets, or tentacles rigged well inside of hollow squids. That way if squid get after them, it takes them a long time to get all of the meat and believe me, swords will simply gobble down a hollow squid with, or without some meat on it. This trick will keep you fishing after your bait has been mugged or pecked away at by the squidlies.

(Add your hook of choice, of course.)

And hey, Michael, congrats on your first SuperBar fishies, but marlin and wahoo? Hey, I thought that spreadbars were just for tuna...NOT! Keep up the good work and send picts!

Best in Big Game website & online store, www.fredarchersworldoffishing.com

[Kahi]

I use 3 bricks zip tied together, then duct taped. Breakaway line #25 mono.

I drop down a single squid.

[bigg09]

I use 3 bricks zip tied together, then duct taped. Breakaway line #25 mono.

I drop down a single squid.

the breakaway looks good, i would just do the opposite of the diagram when dealing with the slack line. you want the brakaway tight and slack in the leader so that when the fish is on or you put the boat in gear to snap the breakaway, the strain will snap the breakaway kinda like a trip on the bridal rig of a planner setup that everybody on here is so familiar with. Casey

[Captain Michael Buffington]

Unlike some threads, there's a pile of great, accurate advice here from some folks who know whereof they speak. It's a great read and it's also good to see an open minded fisherman like Michael picking up so fast and so well on what to him is a new technique. Hats off to all!

One little suggestion. Day or night, I always fish my small, giant squid strips, fillets, or tentacles rigged well inside of hollow squids. That way if squid get after them, it takes them a long time to get all of the meat and believe me, swords will simply gobble down a hollow squid with, or without some meat on it. This trick will keep you fishing after your bait has been mugged or pecked away at by the squidlies.

(Add your hook of choice, of course.)

And hey, Michael, congrats on your first SuperBar fishies, but marlin and wahoo? Hey, I thought that spreadbars were just for tuna...NOT! Keep up the good work and send picts!

Best in Big Game website & online store, www.fredarchersworldoffishing.com

I have had that happen before with the little cannibals. I'll give that a try Fred. It can be hard to get the right size squid here sometimes and I don't like the big ones. I'll try half my baits hollow squid full of squid or maybe a strip of bonita inside there.

The bars worked well and I was impressed by how well that little plastic bar held up. I got some video I'm about to start on of the white and I think the other guys got some good photos. Your bars caught afew eyes at Venice Marina and one of the charter caps, William Wall recognized them by name immediately. Thanks again Captain Archer!

Mike