October 26th SunSentinel Article

[Poledancer]

Tom Greene at Custom Rod & Reel says with the full moon coming there will be wahoo biting in the 150-250 foot area. Anglers may try trolling ballyhoo or small artificials for dolphin early in the morning or late afternoon. Kingfish are still active off the reefs, and mutton and yellowtail snapper are OK. Greene also has gotten reports of swordfish catches during the day, the largest 420 pounds. "We think they feed on squid on the bottom at daytime and they come up at night," Greene says. "They seem to be catching bigger fish during the daytime. And a word to those out there — release 'em, please. Save some for the next guy, like your own son in 20 years."

[Cutler]

Originally Posted by Poledancer

Tom Greene at Custom Rod & Reel says with the full moon coming there will be wahoo biting in the 150-250 foot area. Anglers may try trolling ballyhoo or small artificials for dolphin early in the morning or late afternoon. Kingfish are still active off the reefs, and mutton and yellowtail snapper are OK. Greene also has gotten reports of swordfish catches during the day, the largest 420 pounds. "We think they feed on squid on the bottom at daytime and they come up at night," Greene says. "They seem to be catching bigger fish during the daytime. And a word to those out there — release 'em, please. Save some for the next guy, like your own son in 20 years."

yeah Tom, throw them back so someone else can harvest it

[DIRTYFOOT2]

[RiskTaker]

Yeah, like you're going to spend $150 in fuel plus the other misc. expenses to go out swordfishing, then the best recommendation is to release the fish for your son in 20 years. Someone, please pull my finger so I can let that brain-fart pass.

I like conservation so that there are fish for our immediate and future generations, but the main intent of swordfishing at the recreational level is to catch a fish, maybe commercial too. . Otherwise, I would stay home and watch Discovery channel or some drama on the Woman's network. A donation for a satellite tag deployment would be the next runner up.

PoleDancer, you must not be from these parts, Venus perhaps. D'oh, perhaps not because you are getting fishing advice from Custom Rod and reel. My bad. Following that advice to the letter would be good advice. But you ain't fishing unless you are fishing .... ; oops fisherman's secret.

Oh yeah, good luck getting the wahoo in the boat. Another full moon adventure.

(Trick question - Do you use a gaff to get the Wahoo in the boat?)

Party on Garth.

[catching]

This has been a odd situation with the daytime fish still yet to see what is to unfold on recreational side, the guys south of us have been killing nice fish for years and it has not hurt their fishery my only concern it that we have made it possible and showed the PLL's yet another way to kill these great fish in mass numbers of breeding fish around the world I can see it now all the Captains around the world; lets drop’em deep and see what happens

I just hope I can have a chance to kill one over 500 pounds within the next year because if NMFS lets any PLL's into any of the closed zones off the east or in the Gulf with this new info on the drop it deep and kill the triple plus markers our sword fishery around the world as we know it is done

Lets put it in everything in place guys who will hurt from a closure?????

I know I will not!!!! I will fish and do catch,tag and release do not let these guys scare you about a closed fishery on Swords. We can still fish for them just might not be able to kill them so tighten up your drags, start using circle hooks, bring them in green, and get ready to release one of the greatest and most power fish of the deep blue sea when the time comes!!!!!

Sorry it has been building up for a while, and after taking my kids fishing today and doing all catch and release and seeing the smiles on their faces and the exciting hoots and hollars while catching them and even more fun letting them go was just priceless

OK I have said my peace and besides the Beast, Seahunter, and a few others who else feels this way

[WhItEoUt 23]

GOOD POST

[Poledancer]

RT, i have never been to his store or taken advice from him nor will i ever just thought it was a funny read.

[miamiangler1]

[quote=RiskTaker;70615]Yeah, like you're going to spend $150 in fuel plus the other misc. expenses to go out swordfishing, then the best recommendation is to release the fish for your son in 20 years. Someone, please pull my finger so I can let that brain-fart pass.

I like conservation so that there are fish for our immediate and future generations, but the main intent of swordfishing at the recreational level is to catch a fish, maybe commercial too.


People spend thousands of dollars to catch Marlin , and release them , why not big swords ... no need to kill all the breeders , no need for some boats to catch two or three fish over 300+... now you can go for them 24/7.. let`s see what happens in a year or two ... just don`t like the idea on how it was 10years ago ... My 2 cents ...

[JahMussa]

Here's my 2 cents. We all know October and February are the two months when the big fish are off our coast in decent numbers. This time last year saw a lot of big fish being caught at night. Especially around this harvest moon. Guess what... big fish are still being caught at night. Just so happens that they are being caught during the day too. Watch what hits the deck as soon as this wind stops. Next week will produce the biggest fish of the year IMO if the wind lays down.

So is the bigger sized fish that are being caught during the day just because "it's that time of year" or is it truely that the biggest fish mainly stay on the bottom year round as some have stated?

Time will tell I guess. Again.. my opinion is that the daytime thing will see mostly smaller fish once this prime month is past us then start picking back up in February.

[The BEAST]

Originally Posted by RiskTaker

Yeah, like you're going to spend $150 in fuel plus the other misc. expenses to go out swordfishing, then the best recommendation is to release the fish for your son in 20 years. Someone, please pull my finger so I can let that brain-fart pass.

Nice quote! Somebody better pull his finger quick. After a thought like that you would think he is full of hot air.

Just FYI, RT, not everyone feels that sport fishing isn't worth it unless you can keep your quarry. I for one, have only kept 3 or 4 Swordfish in the last 7 years. My customers spend a lot more than $150 to go release fishing. I've fished for Sailfish more than any other fish swimming in the last 10-15 years. I do more family/friend fishing for Sails at over $200 per day in fuel/expenses, and have never slapped a single one on ice in my lifetime. I guess some of us do spend more than $150 for fuel just for the fun of it. If you have to keep your fish to make it worthwhile; it is an expensive attempt at grocery shopping rather than sport fishing.

I don't believe that most of the guys fish for Swordfish only to fill their dinner plate, as you insinuate.

[RiskTaker]

Originally Posted by The BEAST

I don't believe that most of the guys fish for Swordfish only to fill their dinner plate, as you insinuate.

For some strange reason my thinking is just the opposite side of your claim.

Capt. Jim, that is why I thought that Poledancer's post was so funny. Because, I seem to be tuned into a crowd of fishermen that mostly boat swordfish. Sure there are a very few that will release them too.

PoleDancer, I thought it was a funny read too. I am glad that you concurred with the humor of it. Especially when taken in context with everything else going on at the same time.

But I would say that 9 out of 10 anglers that I know will boat a fish first; this does not necessarily mean that they only intend to fill their dinner plate, but the fish is harvested none the less. So that is what qualifies as " most anglers" in my circles of travel. And I am still talking purely recreational, nothing commerical based. Yet, I have released sailfish too, and still spent plenty of money on fuel/expenses.

Jim, I do understand your point that many people do fish just for the pleasure, and they may release what they catch. But for swordfish, I have yet to meet one, that I have actually been fishing with. They all want to get a fish in the boat: because I do know one that says he will release a big swordfish, but have yet to fish with him.

You do your business for financial gain, (charter boat captain), so I can imagine that you do pretty much as your customers request, wrt boating a legal swordfish or releasing it. So that could be significantly different than the behavior of the local crowd I am fishing with.

[DIRTYFOOT2]

The point was that I don't think anybody is going electric dropping for a release. Think most here have released quite a few fish, and done thier best to ensure a healthy release, while driftin a jug. Can't imagine making another drop w/ a 200lb + fish sunning on the deck. Just don't see this day dropping thing taking over. Its gear intensive, and not easy. Nobody is doing it everyday........the weather prohibits, and cost restraints are too high.

[The BEAST]

Originally Posted by RiskTaker

You do your business for financial gain, (charter boat captain), so I can imagine that you do pretty much as your customers request, wrt boating a legal swordfish or releasing it. So that could be significantly different than the behavior of the local crowd I am fishing with.

Not true! I have boat standards and do not whore to my customers. If somone wants to keep a Billfish (Marlin or Sail) they have to charter another boat. I used to impose a 1 Swordfish boat limit as well but you guys have me convinced that we need to kill more fish to save the fish so I have upped it to 2 fish per night. If they bring 3 guys and we catch 3 fish... one of the fish swims away! That is up front knowledge and doesn't change. If that doesn't agree with them, charter another boat. That is simply my morality on the subject and a double rate plus tip wouldn't change that.

I wasn't implying that "MOST" don't want to keep fish for the table, but rather that they don't fish for that express reason.

I'm sorry if I take your posts out of context. Most times I need to reread them several times to try and get through the tedious longevity just to get to the basic meaning of it. I'm not always successful.

[Ocean Outlaw 420]

I don't think you have to worry about longlines using this daytime method to catch the big fish on the bottom.Not saying it can't be done with LL but you would probably lose more gear than it is worth.This is strictly gonna be a rod and reel thing so don't get your panties in a wad.

[The BEAST]

Ever heard of grouper long lines?

[Ocean Outlaw 420]

You ever heard of a 500 lb swordfishh parting off your 1000 dollar a mile gear in 1500 feet of water?I'm not putting my gear down there.Bottom longlining on the east coast is rather tough with all that current.I'm one PLL'er you don't have to worry about doing it during the day.

[Broadbill-Pro]

The fear should be if a general catagory recreational permit is developed. Electric reels are prohibited on handline vessel, but not recreational vessels. There are a few guys already daytime fishing everyday weather permits, those fish are not legal to sell. If they are not selling them then I would expect world hunger to be solved very soon.

Nobody fishes with electric reels to release a fish, it is a method of meat fishing (not sportfishing). Take what you need, then give them a break for a month or so. Anyone doing it every weekend deserves to be critized, unless your getting skunked.

[miamiangler1]

Nobody fishes with electric reels to release a fish, it is a method of meat fishing (not sportfishing). Take what you need, then give them a break for a month or so. Anyone doing it every weekend deserves to be critized, unless your getting skunked.[/quote]

Totally agree with you . .. those that fish every week , would like to know what they do with all of that sword steaks???... I `m still going to do it manually oncei get back out there!

[JahMussa]

Originally Posted by Broadbill-Pro

The fear should be if a general catagory recreational permit is developed.

Very True IMO!

Originally Posted by Broadbill-Pro

Electric reels are prohibited on handline vessel, but not recreational vessels. There are a few guys already daytime fishing everyday weather permits, those fish are not legal to sell. If they are not selling them then I would expect world hunger to be solved very soon.

This isn't exactly correct. Any vessel can handline as defined by NMFS. Buoy fishing and Handline fishing are two different gear types. It's also my understanding that the use of an electric reel is ok to use for both commercial and rec guys. The problem I see thought is that a Buoy fisherman must haul the gear manually. FWC could write you a ticket IF they wanted to and IF you have buoy gear AND and electric hauling device that was "active". A pot hauler, electric reel, bandit reel, LL, etc could all be used to haul buoy gear so there is a possible conflict. The same as a PLL having a working spool on the boat but fishing out front with only buoys. When they get stopped, FWC can't tell which gear was used to catch the fish onboard and it will be deemed to be caught on the illegal gear type onboard. So this is a tricky one that should be cleared up down the road. But as it is written now, it seems everyone is able to use electric reels to catch swordfish with an electric reel (except maybe an Incidental Swordfish permit holder).

Here's a snip...

ATLANTIC SWORDFISH
Permits
Commercial fishermen are required to hold a permit for the vessel they are operating in order to fish for or take Atlantic swordfish. Permits in the commercial Atlantic swordfish fishery are issued under a limited access system. In order to enter the fishery, you must obtain a permit from a fisherman who is leaving the fishery. The permit types are:

• Directed Permit: Allows fishermen to target swordfish using any authorized gear. Permits are subject to upgrading restrictions. Fishermen must also hold an Atlantic tunas Longline Category permit and an Atlantic shark permit. During a directed fishery closure, permit holders are allowed to land 15 fish per trip.
• Handgear Permit: Allows fishermen to target swordfish using only handgear; longline gear may not be on board the vessel. Permits are subject to upgrading restrictions. No other permit is required. During a directed fishery closure, harpoon cannot be used but other handgear users may land 15 fish per trip.
• Incidental Permit: Allows fishermen to land swordfish incidental to the catch from other fishing activities. Permits are not subject to upgrading restrictions. Fishermen must also hold an Atlantic tunas Longline Category permit and an Atlantic shark permit. The incidental limits are 2 fish per trip for most gear types. If you use squid trawl, you may keep 5 fish per trip.

Allowable Gear as it relates to Swordfish

• North Atlantic swordfish can only be taken with handgear or longline except that a limited number of swordfish may be taken incidentally on a vessel with squid trawl.

Handgear means handline, harpoon, rod and reel, bandit gear, buoy gear, or speargun gear.

Handline means fishing gear that is attached to, or in contact with, a vessel; that consists of a mainline to which no more than two hooks or gangions may be attached; and that is released and retrieved by hand rather than by mechanical means.

Speargun fishing gear means a muscle-powered speargun equipped with a trigger mechanism, a spear with a tip designed to penetrate and retain fish, and terminal gear. Terminal gear may include, but is not limited to, trailing lines, reels, and floats. The term “muscle-powered speargun” for the purposes of this part means a speargun that stores potential energy provided from the operator's muscles, and that releases only the amount of energy that the operator has provided to it from his or her own muscles. Common energy storing methods for muscle-powered spearguns include compressing air and springs, and the stretching of rubber bands.
Now doesn't that open another whole can of worms!!!

Originally Posted by Broadbill-Pro

Nobody fishes with electric reels to release a fish, it is a method of meat fishing (not sportfishing).

Global fish mounts did it on TV and I know of others that have let them go. Granted, these were smaller fish (still legal size).

Originally Posted by Broadbill-Pro

Take what you need, then give them a break for a month or so. Anyone doing it every weekend deserves to be critized, unless your getting skunked.

There are rec guys fishing 2 or 3 nights a week and I don't think they are selling the fish. Then again, there are guys fishing 2 or 3 nights a week and IMO... they are selling their fish. FWC needs to figure out which guys are illegal and make an example of them.

-Tek

[iriesoul]

Tek as we talked about before I fished with the guys in the keys and had very in depth conversations with them about this fishery. They have been doing this for almost 10 years now. They have caught tons of fish. Vic himself caught fish number 89 the day I was on the boat with them. There average daytime fish is 200 pounds ALL YEAR ROUND. There average nigh time fish is 100 pounds. The bigger fish are overpowering the smaller fish when feeding on bottom. I have also heard from others that they have brought up 200 to 300 pound fish that have been sitting on the deck for hours and they are ice cold. So it seems as though the bigger fish may have plenty of food on the bottom and it requires more energy for them to move up shallower to feed so why wouldn't they just stay on the bottom? Seems like the smaller fish have to travel up higher to feed maybe the bigger fish only move up higher when there is less food on the bottom available? That would explain why in the past it was rare to catch large fish at night all year round. Maybe they larger fish only came up when the squid actually completely left the bottom or was non existent? I dunno just some thoughts