Handline Gear

[PURPLE FEVER]

Went out last night. Saw 2 center console boats setting bouys. I thought that a special permit is required for handgear. Please correct me if I am wrong. I know who the boats are particularly when they go out with 1 rod.I wonder if these handgear fisherman are doing this in the swordfish tournaments as well? How many fish does it take fill a freezer? I'm sure these unlicensed anglers aren't selling their fish. Maybe we should all sell our 80's and just deploy bouys!!! :idea:

[Nick C]

These guys DO have permits to fish bouys and sell their catch. They are doing far less damage than the ll's do!!! I believe we have 2 bouys guys here on this site... one on them posted his report from sunday night.
The last tourney, a friend had his jugs tangle with the bouys... they were unlit and prolly in the tourney... Gotta keep and an eye out :shock:

[Hicatch]

The guys he saw don't have permits, but it is not illegal for recreationals to fish hand gear. It's only illegal to sell the catch wihout a permit and SPL or exceed the 1 fish per person 3 maximum per boat limit.

[Nick C]

Ah. So if they are legal then. I don't care for the bouys all that much, but don't think they do damage on the fishery

[floridascuba]

I believe all it takes is the hand line HMS permit. All other limits and regs apply.

[PURPLE FEVER]

As HI-CATCH said, the guys I saw last night were not the beeper bouy guys who report on this Forum. Maybe they have permits but I dont think so. These were guys who have been swordfishing out front for as many years as I have about the last 6 or 7 years. Maybe they are tired of winding. Does one of the commercial guys fish from a 23 ft. boat? or a 31ft. boat?I dont think my post said anything about damage to the fishery, but if you think this through and you have dozens of "recreational"guys "handlining" out here what are the commercial guys going to say?? If I were them i would be very pissed off.Then what will happen?

[Relentless33]

I know of a 27' Conch that goes out with buoys.

Captain Ollie is on a 28 footer

[Nick C]

Yes, one of the bouys guys runs a 23'er

[purplefunk]

I wouldn't jump to " lets all sell our 80's and put out buoy gear" It requires far more work than drifting with rod and reel, and when you do get a big fish on there is no drag for the fish to wear out on, its your arms and back.

[catching]

I have had a couple take a swing at me after a 45 minute battle, would hate to see what a green hand lined fish would do boat side, before you had a chance to stick the fish. From talking to one of the guys that’s sets gear I do not think this is something to be tried at home (50 line) unless you have enough experience handling these fish; every Sword I have caught seems to have it's own personality when it comes to the end game.

I say leave it the pro's otherwise someone is going to get really hurt or worst die out there trying this method of Swording with out putting in the nessary time to learn how these fish act in every situation.

[John Doe]

I wouldn't sell your 80's yet, From what I was told that come Jan the loop hole or grey area that permits rec's to set buoys will be stopped come Jan. Recs will be able to use hand gear but only attached to the boat, no free floating buoys.

[Captain Ollie]

Hey guys Catching couldn't have said it any better. Point blank

............................IT IS QUITE DANGEROUS.........................

That wasn't me last night. I fish off a 28 foot KevlaCat named Nauticat.

As far as I know anyone can fish the gear. I have nothing against it either if its legal. Its a big ocean out there. More power to ya. BUT WHY A RECREATIONAL ANGLER WOULD WANT TO DO THIS JUST TO BRING HOME SOME SWORDFISH IS BEYOND ME. Just ONE small 50" fish yields enough meat to feed every house on my block I'd care to walk to. So either these guys have a HELL of alot of friends that eat a SH!TLOAD of swordfish or these fish are being sold illegally and THAT is the real issue here.

AND by the way, I think that fishing this stuff during a tournament is beyond ridiculous. I make it a point to stay the hell off the water on those nights just as a courtesy to you guys that fish them.

I've caught a hell of a lot of fish like this and every time I "step into the ring" and pick up the leader all I can say is that the pucker factor is always at maximum. I've seen many times how even a small miscalculation in handling that line could result in a problem that you might not be able to get yourself out of. Its definitely not worth the price of dinner in my book. You have a hell of a better chance not getting yourself killed with the rods.

[Broadbill-Pro]

Originally Posted by Nick C

These guys DO have permits to fish bouys and sell their catch. They are doing far less damage than the ll's do!!! I believe we have 2 bouys guys here on this site... one on them posted his report from sunday night.
The last tourney, a friend had his jugs tangle with the bouys... they were unlit and prolly in the tourney... Gotta keep and an eye out :shock:

did someone ask about LL's???

[Broadbill-Pro]

Originally Posted by Hicatch

The guys he saw don't have permits, but it is not illegal for recreationals to fish hand gear. It's only illegal to sell the catch wihout a permit and SPL or exceed the 1 fish per person 3 maximum per boat limit.

oxymoron to call them recreational

[Captain Ollie]

You got that right BP.

[neptune]

Ollie, and reading your posts you make it sound like its so much fun :shock: :lol:

[PURPLE FEVER]

Captain Ollie and Broadbill Pro seem to be the only ones who got it!!!Why do "recreational" anglers need "commercial " gear to put a few fish in the freezer? As to the danger involved, I'm not sure it is any different. However, after handling several hundred swordfish I feel I could handle it , but am not a "pro" by any means.I for one would like to keep this a "sport" to enjoy for years to come.

[Captain Ollie]

Neptune, I'm not going to lie to you or anyone else becasuse I guess do find it to be "fun" as you put it. Didn't really mean for it to sound like a party however. More of an adrenaline rush. The direct connection between you and the fish conveys to you the true power and speed this fish is capable of. It truely becomes a fight. You feel every headshake, twisting turn and tailbeat. Something you never get on a rod. But believe me its a sh!tload of work. From the time we start loading the boat till the time I crawl into bed, usually at 7:00AM, its NON-STOP hustle. I usually take a 2 hour nap then go unload the fish and head off to sell them. Come back and nap again for a few hours, and either get up and do it again or unload/swap my gear so that I can dive the next day. I also dive for tropical fish and lobster at least 3+ days a week, 3 tanks a day. What I do and when depends on the weather, availability of crew, and just what I feel like doing at the moment. So believe me if I did't get some sort of enjoyment out of it I would never be able to go through all the work involved. So far I've made it through 20 years of this and I'm still going like the Energizer Bunny. Just to give you a quick idea of what my swordfish trips entail.....Just to start I have to go shovel, carry, and load 600 to 800 pounds of ice. :shock: Thats usually what people look at me like when I tell them this. Woo-hoo. I can't quite tell you how much of a blast that is when the heat index is 100+.

[Boboe]

Originally Posted by Captain Ollie

Just to start I have to go shovel, carry, and load 600 to 800 pounds of ice. :shock: Thats usually what people look at me like when I tell them this. Woo-hoo. I can't quite tell you how much of a blast that is when the heat index is 100+.

That's all? That's only about 5 tubs worth (a tub being a 35gallon trash can full)

Most days when I chartered it was 2 tubs of ice, but on our 2-3 day trips it was often 18 tubs. I can't quite begin to explain how much fun that is, especially when you've got to get it up onto the bow of a 42' Uniflite.

[Captain Ollie]

Very funny.