Broadbills off NC in winter

[capt. jakeg]

The fishing can get red hot from the 650 to the 850 during the winter... Most cases surface temp doesnt really matter all too much. Swords spend the majority of their time down deep where its cold anyways. The surface temp can be used as an indicator to find thermoclines and subsurface rips that hold bait. Look for the squids. Find squids and you find swords. I have caught them in 55 degree water in january and 74 degree water in june.
Casey, I heard the longliners got em good at the 900 and way overboard a couple weeks ago.... and they said the eyeballs were so thick they were cutting the live ones off their sets because they couldnt hold more.

[Captain Fred Archer]

There is no question whatsoever in my mind that swordfish are viable targets for recreational guys in the winter just about anywhere on the coast. As Capt Jakeg notes, surface water temps basically mean doodly squat when it comes to swordfish. They spend most of their time and do most of their feeding in vast depths and 37 degree water in total darkness. They have the highest concentration of mitochondria in the animal kingdom. Basically, this substance creates heat. Those concentrations aren't throughout their bodies. They are located in the brain and eyes, the tools swords need to feed in that kind of cold and absence of light. Swordfish aren't endothermic, like tunas, so they have to rise up into warmer waters to raise their core body temperatures. In areas with really warm surface temps they swim just below the surface or fin out to absorb heat from the sun. This warming of their bodies also allows them to digest their meals.

I describe swordfish as "ocean going garbage trucks" in my books about them. That phrase came about because of the many strange bait I personally found in ones that I caught and literally hundreds (actually, more) that my plank boat buddies, all of whom examin the stomach contents if their fish have told me about. This included black cod (sort of a west coast equivalent of tile fish as far as depth is concerned), mackerel, sardines, anchovies, lobsters, crabs and even a merganser. The prevalent prey is squid, squid in all sizes, from amazingly tiny ones, to monster Humbolts that they chop up (which makes them a lousy bait. Small squid are the best as far as I'm concerned because they eat them, instead of trying to chop them up. And there is a far better squid bait than the little ones.)

Another deep-running species that is likely to show up when you fish swords is bigeye tuna. They too run and feed in incredibly deep water. They are a primary target of the longliners because of their high oil content, which makes them the #2 sashimi grade tuna. Rod and reel models are worth a lot more than the longlined fish because the former can be caught fast and killed and bled properly, while the longlined fish die on the line and aren't prepped as fast or as well.

Night swording is very effective, no doubt about it, but as the Phat Man pointed out, deep drop fishing is a daytime proposition, is very effective too, and is a helluva lot more comfortable than night fishing as far as many fishermen are concerned. There are a lot of fishermen who are completely comfortable in the daytime, but who have a hard time with sea sickness at night.

Tide changes are critical when it comes to swordfish coming up toward the surface. Studies and personal experience have proven that they come up with the deep scattering layer in response to tide changes and moonlight too.

I'll make this prediction right now...if decent numbers of east coast fishermen start fishing for swordfish the right ways and at the right times, you are going to wind up with a terrific, brand new fishery. Just be very careful at the end game - they are dangerous as hell! One of my descriptions is that they are like "mako sharks with a sharp bill and no teeth"!

Good luck!

Website www.FredArchersWorldofFishing.com

We call it "Purple Fever". You'll understand why after you meet your first one.

[cutnrun]

Hey Dorian....
Nice thread you've started. Does this mean you're going out to buy Kristal reels for my boat and next time I come in to NC I'm going to be wisked offshore in search of swords??
Just make sure there are enough red bulls and cigs on board for the night....BOB

[bigg09]

no offense intended, but there is no need for the electric reels. there are plenty of methods and breakaways to use relatively minimal costs (ie concrete). I just don't find it sporty. every fish the we have caught in the day and the guys that really started this in islamorada have been caught on tiagra 80's loaded with braid. more than enough to handle swords. plus you will feel 100% better about the accomplishment.

Casey

Jake i heard that same report! now if we could just get a decent weather window to try again. thursday was looking ok, but non-of us can get oof of work. maybe next week or over the hollidays.

[waterman482]

Most of the longliners up here off of VA usually put their sets out on the cold water to avoid the tunas and sharks when they are looking for swords.

If you set on the cold side of the break you will be covered up in blue dogs!

[striper swiper]

If you set on the cold side of the break you will be covered up in blue dogs!

The difference in weight of same size and number of worms in a cold side fish vs a warm side fish will effect price at the dock if so inclined So I would fish deeper on the cold side to avoid the Bluedogs vs fishing the warmer side that will hold more pup sized fish if that was the case
Best deep drop breakaway weight sand in a threaded and capped steel pipe It will vanish over time plastic with concrete will not go to a fire sprinkler crew and ask for threaded cut offs
of the black pipe figure out what size you need Put a wint o green lifesaver on the hook tie it with a floss loop and send it down with a conventional sinkler up the leader at the swivel/light point The Lifesaver will dissolve quick enough and you have a bait at the depth you marked your line at or on the bottom as quickly as you can freespool it that depth no pulling line no spun up baits This works well for tuna chunking as well

[capt. jakeg]

no offense intended, but there is no need for the electric reels. there are plenty of methods and breakaways to use relatively minimal costs (ie concrete). I just don't find it sporty. every fish the we have caught in the day and the guys that really started this in islamorada have been caught on tiagra 80's loaded with braid. more than enough to handle swords. plus you will feel 100% better about the accomplishment.

Casey

Jake i heard that same report! now if we could just get a decent weather window to try again. thursday was looking ok, but non-of us can get oof of work. maybe next week or over the hollidays.

heard there was a 550+# core that came into wanchese also... Thats a 700# fish- STUD.

[Captain Fred Archer]

Studies have proven that the bigger, female swords can tolerate colder surface waters much better than the smaller females and males. Of course, this refers to surface waters primarily, because the water that these big fish hunt in is literally frigid wherever they are swimming. Swordfish and sperm whales are the swordfish's only natural enemies. The one below was attacked after it died on the 'poon line. Crappy picture, but I thought some might like to get a look at it. As you know, makos have small mouths for their size and the one that did the biting here was a BIG momma!

Website www.FredArchersWorldofFishing.com

[tunatamer4]

Studies have proven that the bigger, female swords can tolerate colder surface waters much better than the smaller females and males. Of course, this refers to surface waters primarily, because the water that these big fish hunt in is literally frigid wherever they are swimming. Swordfish and sperm whales are the swordfish's only natural enemies. The one below was attacked after it died on the 'poon line. Crappy picture, but I thought some might like to get a look at it. As you know, makos have small mouths for their size and the one that did the biting here was a BIG momma!

Website www.FredArchersWorldofFishing.com

GOOD GOD! That right there is one sexy MOMMA!

Was she caught on the left or right coast, Capt. Fred?

[Boneshaker]

How far is the run from Oregon Inlet to where you need to fish for the swords and eyeballs? I've caught the bigeyes near the tuna hole but it sounds like you are talking about well north of there.