Virginia Sword Report

[SLAYER25]

GOTTA LOVE THOSE SWORDS

[Fish Dad]

First of all, congratulations on finally landing a keeper... it's something I haven't accomplished yet.


We went out of OI on an overnighter last year and had 2 or 3 (can't remember) solid bites but nothing came tight. On 2 of the bites line would creep, then run off pretty hot for a few seconds then it was over. The 3rd bite wasn't as severe.

My question is what should I have done? Reeled it tight? Increase/ decrease drag, etc? Just curious and any help appreciated. Also, what do you keep your drag set to while drifting? Thanks.

-Alex

Alex, I like to keep the drags loose so they can run giving them time to decide to eat the bait. Like most fish, once they realize something ain't right, they will try to spit the hook. More than half, probably even around 75%, the sword ate the bait, then kept swimming up (not down or out) with no clicker going off. Several times, all saw our own glow stick or clip on light swimming around the surface. This can be bad because you now have 100 to 200 feet of slack in your line and he can either wrap your mainline around his bill or wrap another line while swimming around your boat before you realize the fish is hooked. In this case you have to get the slack out of your line as fast as possible and clear the other lines, then hope nothing is tangled before setting the hook.

One thing I do is use pool noodles 2-3 feet long. I put a glow stick on top and attach it using a long line clip. As long as there is weight pulling on the noodle, it floats straight up and down. If a sword hits your bait and rises with the bait, the noodle should lay on it's side (because there is no weight pulling on it). So the crew has to constantly keep a watch to see if the noodle is up or laying down. If down, crank it up and check it.

Every sword I've had they always seem to be a little different making it hard give advice as to how to handle different situations. These fish are tricky devils and many times I think they are just screwing me, then going back to their swordfish bar to laugh and make fun of me.

[bigg09]

one suggestion, would be to use off-set open j-hooks, not the southern tuna style. we keep our drags loose around 8# and only put pressure on maybe to 15# untill the fight last a while. at that point, it is a crap shoot whether or not the fish will pull the hook, so i figure that if is pulls sooner, then you get back to fishing sooner. as a key note, i would rather have caught the fish i have missed or pulled the hook on then the ones that i have gotten to date. but that is fishing. these swords will drive you mad!!!!

[TunaTeaser1]

Thanks for the tips guys...

Good point on the offset, what size hook are you using? We were using a 7691, I forget the size, maybe 11/0.

[Fish Dad]

Gamakatsu Octupus 10/0 Offset Point

[bigg09]

size depends on the squid or bait, kinda like rigging a spanish. i have not settled on a hook yet, I just like a welded eye and open gap hook and have even bend some of my own from spainless and other marlin hooks we have. nothing set in stone yet. i do prefer the mustdad and eagle claws.