Swordfishing 101 questions

[neilinov]

We just started fishing for swordfish this year. We have had some pretty crazy times doing it. I just want to know if these are the normal things to expect when fishing for them.

We had one on a couple of weeks ago. I'll call this crazy swordfish # 1. It took a bait on one side of the boat and came straight to the surface skyrocketing straight up and hit the outrigger on the starboard side. When it hit the water it moved at lightening speed under the boat and rocketed out on the other side and hit the other outrigger. This fish came 12-14' out of the water 10 feet from the boat. I fight this fish for 1 hr and a half and it comes up exhausted. Bill grabs the leader and begins to pull this one up. As he is pulling the leader the hook pulls out of his mouth. Crazy #1 is just laying there on top and Bill dives on top of him. We drag Bill and Crazy #1 up and kill our first sword.

Last weekend. I'll call this crazy swordfish #2. We were in the Wilmington and had a deep live squid about 200' down. The rig comes tight and out past the lights we see whatever is attached to the line airing out. It jumps and jumps and then turns straight for the boat and at high speed is there in seconds. It pops up right next to the boat and it turns out to be a porpoise that ate the squid bait. We cut him loose as soon as we realize that it is a porpoise. I didn't know a porpoise would take a bait and was equally as stunned that it was down 200'.

Last night we were in the Baltimore. I'll call this crazy swordfish #3. We were in the middle of a blitz of 100# allisons when I see the live bait dangling in the outriggger clip get whacked by a huge sword. I have one rod with a huge allison in one hand and grab the livey rod,with my bad arm, and hook the big sword with the other. I hand the sword pole off to my friend MJ who has never caught one. This fish starts slashing it's bill on top of the water like a maniac and then runs from side to side and then straight toward the bow at break neck speed. We have 2 big allisons hooked up and a lot of them still swimming around the boat. This sword is hooked and still chasing the allisons around the boat. MJ is running all over the boat trying to keep up with him while going over under and around the guys with the poles attached to the tunas. I think crazy #3 finally realized that he was hooked and makes a 90 degree turn and is headed straight for the starboard side of the boat at lightspeed. I'm talking on top of the water with a tanker wake behind him. It slams into the boat and then turns toward the stern beating his tail against the hull as hard and loud as he can. The leader broke off when he ripped past the motors.

My questions are these:

Is it usual for them to jump as high and close to the boat as Crazy swordfish #1?

Do they always fight until they are almost dead?

Is it usual for them to ram the boat at lightning speed like crazy swordfish # 3?

Is it possible that crazy swordfish #2 was playing charlie brown football with the porpoise?

Is it to be expected that all of my swordfishing trips are going to be as eventful as the ones I have done in the past 2 weeks? If so I'm hooked and I'm in.

[Nimrod]

Crazy Neil #1???

Dude - you have the wildest stuff happen to you and the Sun Daze crew. Are you sure your not Moon Dazed as well?

I am anxious to hear what the experts have to say. Either way - I'm in too if you'll invite me.

[Deep C]

I refer to swordfishing some times as night catfishing where we catch long nosed makos. Very seldom do I get two the same. From the bite to being on the deck they are all different. People ask whats the bite like.
I get stuck for a straight up answer. Sometimes the rod just starts to bend. Thats a good bite to have cause hes going away and pretty much hooks himself. Then we get the tap tap tap crap from one that cant make up is mind. Reeling in fifty or a hundred feet may get the bite. Maybe dropping fast will draw one. Then we get the screamer that just slams a bait without mercy already on a freight train run. Hooks often pull on this type . Then we get a load of ones you never know are happening. This can be in the form of seeing a light stick swimming around out there. Maybe a change in line angle or slack line lets you know. Then we get the crazy fish number one thing.
All is quiet under a moonlit night. You are not paying attention then suddenly there is one ten feet over your head . Ones that eat close do have a bad habit of running at the boat. I have had quite a few want to tailwalk right into the boat before we ever even came tight on it. So the answer is yes they jumpcrazy and yes they charge the boat.
Once in a blue moon I get what I call my dream fish. Thats when I see the rod start to bend and the light stick come up slow. Sometimes you can get really lucky and you can just sneak him to the boat without it even knowing its hooked. I do love those ones. Most though will fight like the hounds of hell until the gaff is in em. Funny though. I get very few give me any grief after I gaff em. This year I'm going to the poon to be able to stick em long distance as I've lost several oto pulled hooks over the years to additional runs after being just short of the gaff. That poon should give me six very important extra feet of pokin room...

[neilinov]

Dude - you have the wildest stuff happen to you and the Sun Daze crew. Are you sure your not Moon Dazed as well?

I am anxious to hear what the experts have to say. Either way - I'm in too if you'll invite me.

I think I am feeling a little moon Dazed Paul I don't think I've fished in the sunlight more than 4 hours in the past 2 weeks. Any way you always have an open invitation on the Sun Daze Dude!!

[John from Madison CT]

Guys: What's the purpose of the light stick in the ballon? Is it just to see the ballon at night?

[rarhomes]

Guys: What's the purpose of the light stick in the ballon? Is it just to see the ballon at night?

John,

You let your flat lines out to the depth you want, then tie on a break away jug or balloon with a light stick in it (for visibility) and float it away from the boat 75' to 125'.

Capt. Rick

[Tunaorlater]

What color lights do you guys normaly use and how far away from the bait?
I have had luck with green but have not really tried anything else. thanks

[neilinov]

We have been using the multi colored flashing lights about 20' away from the baits.

Our best bites however have been on live baits fished at the surface around a full moon with no lights.