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Rob-Mon · 10-25-2009, 01:20 PM

My friends Dave, AJ, and I cleared the Lake Worth inlet with the sun rising and Bloody Mary’s going down as smooth as the seas. This was the maiden voyage for trying our hand at daytime swordfishing. First drop with the new reel was about 15 miles east-southeast in 1584 feet. Drifted over the Palm Beach Canyon and the now super-secret spot with not even a bite. At 1530 we decided to call it a day and try to make it back to watch some of the 4 O’clock football games. I hit the button on the reel to retrieve the bait and 12 pound stick lead. About five seconds later the rod loaded up and the fight was on.

HOOKED UP.jpg

Not sure if we had a shark or a swordfish but whatever it was, it was STRONG. Had the fish up to about 700 feet when it started to run South and rise the surface. About 200 yards from the boat we saw a splash and I saw a bill - but the fish was running away from us and barely broke water. We just knew we had a trophy swordfish on. Down it went again, smoking the drag.

After a two hour fight, 8 ½ miles from where we hooked it, it became apparent that the fish died. Unfortunately it was 600 feet deep when it died and the combination of the fish’s weight and the 12 pounds of lead still attached, we started losing line in a hurry with 60 pounds of drag as the fish sank. Set the drag to maximum hoping the 80 pound power-pro, and my late night rigging, would hold. Although we stopped losing line with about 1200 feet out we couldn’t gain any either - blowing the fuse on the reel. Some quick re-engineering, and a piece of tin foil around the fuse, we were able to handline the fish up with the motor assisting. Gaining inches at a time we took turns handlining.

HANDLINE.jpg

When we got our trophy sword near the boat we could see that it was tail-wrapped, indeed expired, and not a swordfish at all. Turns out it was a big blue marlin. It was a shame that the fish had died because we would have released it.

The fish measured 133 inches overall, 105 inches from the tip of the lower jaw to the fork, and had a 58 inch girth.

IMG_4565.jpg IMG_4573.jpg

Rob

10-25-2009, 01:20 PM	#1 (permalink)
Rob-Mon Grunt Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Palm City Boat: 248 Grady Best Catch: A stud-monkey turd wrassler Occupation: AUTEC Posts: 8	First daytime trip My friends Dave, AJ, and I cleared the Lake Worth inlet with the sun rising and Bloody Mary’s going down as smooth as the seas. This was the maiden voyage for trying our hand at daytime swordfishing. First drop with the new reel was about 15 miles east-southeast in 1584 feet. Drifted over the Palm Beach Canyon and the now super-secret spot with not even a bite. At 1530 we decided to call it a day and try to make it back to watch some of the 4 O’clock football games. I hit the button on the reel to retrieve the bait and 12 pound stick lead. About five seconds later the rod loaded up and the fight was on. HOOKED UP.jpg Not sure if we had a shark or a swordfish but whatever it was, it was STRONG. Had the fish up to about 700 feet when it started to run South and rise the surface. About 200 yards from the boat we saw a splash and I saw a bill - but the fish was running away from us and barely broke water. We just knew we had a trophy swordfish on. Down it went again, smoking the drag. After a two hour fight, 8 ½ miles from where we hooked it, it became apparent that the fish died. Unfortunately it was 600 feet deep when it died and the combination of the fish’s weight and the 12 pounds of lead still attached, we started losing line in a hurry with 60 pounds of drag as the fish sank. Set the drag to maximum hoping the 80 pound power-pro, and my late night rigging, would hold. Although we stopped losing line with about 1200 feet out we couldn’t gain any either - blowing the fuse on the reel. Some quick re-engineering, and a piece of tin foil around the fuse, we were able to handline the fish up with the motor assisting. Gaining inches at a time we took turns handlining. HANDLINE.jpg When we got our trophy sword near the boat we could see that it was tail-wrapped, indeed expired, and not a swordfish at all. Turns out it was a big blue marlin. It was a shame that the fish had died because we would have released it. The fish measured 133 inches overall, 105 inches from the tip of the lower jaw to the fork, and had a 58 inch girth. IMG_4565.jpg IMG_4573.jpg Rob