On the Troll Friday night.

[Tuna Devil]

Nice job guys.

[Relentless33]

Jiggastew jiggastew where are you?

Sweet.

[Nightfighter]

Originally Posted by Flyin By

Thanks for the info, I am way north of you all and we have a fishary which has yet to be even tapped. We are getting swords every time we go out and have had some big girls on. I am one of those people who don't like to limit things and also I don't stay out all night. it would be cool to troll towards the inlet when we get our fish and then run the rest. I have a good relationship with Tek and will be getting with him. The only thing concerning is that everyone is mentioning that sound plays a big part in these fish. I do not like to use planers, I have downriggers. Will the humm from the cable be a factor? i am also looking at the yozuri and mold craft squid for this application. what about leader size, i use 300 for drifting. do we lighten up or go heavier? Dam i hate asking these dumb ass questions but i want to give this an honest try. I am a troller by heart and would do a back flip if we got one of these awsome fish on troll.

I’ve had quite a few people up in your area asking about the Transformers.
Because you don’t have the fish bunched up as closely as we do down here, you are a perfect scenario for trolling to find where the fish are feeding.
Cover lots of ground quickly. Once you start getting knockdowns you know you are in the fish. If she's not on solid on the initial strike immediately freespool it back with your thumb on the spool. You will feel her come back, may swat again, but you will know when she eats it. Put it right up to strike when she does, and game on. Keep trolling or drift in that area.
I almost always have at least one down on a “poor-mans-downrigger” (Planer)and get a lot of hits on it, so the sound of the cable (I use 600# mono”) does not bother them. It may even attract them. I attach an LP light to the back of the planer and it also works as a teaser at the same time. Down riggers are even better because they are easier to retrieve when it comes time to clear all the lines and fight the fish. Defiantly use it!
I use 300# leaders.
I’ve had better luck with lures than the fake squid, I've used a few types. Maybe if I slowed it down they would swim and work better. I like to cover ground quickly, one of my main reasons for trolling, but I have foul hooked a few when I use to run them in a daisy chain. F’ed up a few pups so I stopped the daisy chain setup.
Just troll like you would for Marlin and you won’t go wrong. I’m telling you
it’s easy, they hone right in on the lure with the Transformer in it.
Every one of those lures I show rigged with Transformers, in the picture
on 1st page, has boated a swordfish.
Please, ask the questions, there are no dumb questions when you want to learn how to do it right, quickly. Best to learn from my trial and errors, than have to make the same mistakes your self. It's taken me a long time to get to this point.
The only way they are going to sell is if everyone knows how easy it really is, and that it works. There aren't many out there that troll for swords, and the ones that do, keep it quiet.
There is nothing that hits a trolled lure like a swordfish. Nothing! It's a rush. I only wish I could see them when they go aerial back there, sometimes it sounds like they are putting on one hell of a show.

Post your pictures when you catch them with the Transformers, there are a lot of non-believers out there. I'll have to send out some freebies to the guys that do.

Catch 'em up.

Thanks, glad to answer any questions.

[Flyin By]

THanks again, email is out to Tek so the ball is in his court. I have a set up in mind which is a 4 rod spread. Now its about weather and transforming the way I do things...
P.S. If by any chance you want to throw some up this way I would be sure to show them to our locals. I fish with Baitwasher and the Brassy Hooker, I know they would like to see them.....Ashley our home grown Jr world record holder likes pritty lights.....

[Reel Bonus]

Nice report and great info Stu......Congrats on the new line.....

Don

[WhItEoUt 23]

Originally Posted by Reel Bonus

Nice report and great info Stu......Congrats on the new line.....

Don

RIGHT ON BRO CONGRATS

[Flyin By]

I just got done rigging these up for a test troll. I forgot to ask do you use a double hook rig or not? Do these look ok to try with. There is a fine line between trying and pissing in the wind. Thanks

[JahMussa]

Check your email... info is there for you Those lures look perfect for the Transformer. The hooks being way back seems like the way to go.

-Tek

[Nightfighter]

Originally Posted by Flyin By

I just got done rigging these up for a test troll. I forgot to ask do you use a double hook rig or not? Do these look ok to try with.

Yup, those will all work. Match with Transformer colors. Use the blue or purple in the dark ones. They will seem dim, but it's OK, they see VERY well. Put an LP flasher 12" below the swivle.
Very good question on the preferred hook placement. Here opinions vary greatly, so I will explain why I do what I do, but that doesn’t mean other methods won’t work. To each their own.
First thing to keep in mind is that Swordfish don’t feed like other “billfish.” Other “billfish” trip up their prey with their bill and feed on it as they flip or stumble in the water. Slap, flip, feed.
The swordfish slashes its prey, it expects to mortally wound it or at least disable it. Looking at the difference of the 2 types of bill you can see one is flat with sharp knife edges like a sword and the other is rounded like a broom handle and ridged with high friction knobies.
With that in mind, when I get a knockdown, I always drop back the lure in freespool simulating a wounded fish or squid that can’t swim. The swordfish then comes back and eats. The bigger swordys often just eat and they are on right away.

I use a single hook crimped on, no stiff rig, for 2 reasons, less foul hooks from the initial slash, and so when I freespool it back as it falls in the water and she comes back to eat it, the lure and hook is more eatable. I feel it is less likely that they spit it out as they feel the bulky DBL hook stiff rig in their mouth.
Yes, as Tek says hook at back end of skirt.

Keep 'em coming.

[Disco Lady]

FB That first one is a classic,lure I like it. who sells the transformers in miami?


Nice going Night Fighter! DL

[Flyin By]

Not sure as I am way north, I have been doing business with reelproshop and could not be happier. Tek, has the answer and if he doesnt he will take the time to find out. He also works on a very trusting basis. Give him a call or email I know he will respond. Its a shame we dont have anyone like him closer.
I have spoken to several people in the past day or two and everyone is jazzed I am trying this. Not yet sold on it, I will prove this can and will be done. We cover so much lost water going out somthing needs to be dragged. I also figured out the transithion from trolling to drifting is a couple rod placements and switch or rigs.
Tek, Got the email but computers went down today. I will shoot you another as soon as we are back up.

[chummer]

I fish the same waters as Flyin By and on more than one occasion, I end up getting blown out because of winds. With this approach, say in 3-4' chop - do you think we can at least salvage part of a night out of it by trolling?

If so, this really makes the choppy nights more fishable instead of heading for the barn.

[Flyin By]

Hay Chummer nice of you to drop in, are you going to the xmas party at Ralphs Sat? We will be there. Yes to your question. Think about the days off shore we go and it say 2-4 or even 3-5 long wave days. Trolling we can cover so much more water. Like I said the transition is fast also. My plan of attack is get out a little later say 2/3 of the way run more east then south and drop out the baits and troll to the desired drift spot, zig zag in and out. Or do the drift for an hour or two and then troll to give the night zing. I have mob every fish I have caught and there are a bunch. I know where to start its getting them interested thats going to be the challenge. I am going to pick up some of the transformers toward the end of the month and get ready for an awsome new year. I know Ralph tried the deep dropping last week with no results. I like being out at night cool, quiet. But trolling, I'm in. You gotta join us on the next trip. Trolling for swords on the north nothing numbers.

[chummer]

Howdy, FB!

Let me know when you guys make your next run, and I'll see if I can't make it. I'll be off for two weeks this Christmas (yay) and I've informed the wifey that I'll be on the water every chance I get. I spoke with Ralph after the day drops before heading out, but I probably won't be over for his Xmas party. While the wind is blowing this weekend, I'll be installing some tuna tubes, yet another pump and various other things.

But this trolling thing has really caught my interest. Again, drop me an IM when you and Ralph or anyone else plans a north drift.

BTW, someone told me that the late Steve Seamon used to night troll out on his way to the tuna grounds. I'm wondering if he was doing something like this.

[Flyin By]

This has turned into and info getting excursion. I have spoken to somone this morning who does not frequent forums and stays very quiet who said this has been going on for many years and is amazed it took this long tto figure it out. I mentioned the new transformer, but he was not surprised at all. In fact he said they do somthing else but would not say. We will be having a lead melting party soon got 650 lbs of lead so now we can all get cancer or lead posioning. Drop you an im when we go.

[TidalWave]

Nightfighter,

Just started reading the thread about trolling with these transformers, would it be possible to see a picture of one or do you not want to show them yet? Also your talking about the lp lights is that the same thing as the electralumes that I use? And if so where are you putting them?

Thanks,
TidalWave

[miamiangler1]

Originally Posted by TidalWave

Nightfighter,

Just started reading the thread about trolling with these transformers, would it be possible to see a picture of one or do you not want to show them yet? Also your talking about the lp lights is that the same thing as the electralumes that I use? And if so where are you putting them?

Thanks,
TidalWave

T W .. go to the rigging section ... look under new sword lures and drift rig ... has pics of everything ... have seen them ... look pretty good ..!

[Flyin By]

They are just for teaser effect. I'm going to put a light stick on the line instead of a 50 doller light. Not sure that it will make a difference so I am going to do a 50/50 and see what happens. As was stated they have awsome eye site and I believe too much light will in fact blind them.
Check this out.....New Swordfish Lures and Drift Rig.

[SteveMras]

Originally Posted by Nightfighter

Been hearing the last few night were slow.
My buddy Bryan wanted to put the first sword on his boat real badly. Friday night looked to be the best weather window, so we both blew off our wives work Christmas parties, and got a late start. He wanted to try the trolling with the Transformers, so it was a very easy night for me, we only took lures, all rigged with Transformers, and 4 rod & reel set-ups. Didn’t have to rig a single squid.
I had everything ready to go in the time it took us to get to Boca inlet from the Silver Palms ramp. That was it, from there on all we had to do is get out there and put the lures in. How easy is that.
Lot of boats out there, they were spread from the 50 to 47 lines, and two sets of buoy guys had their blinkers from the 48 to the 46. The radio was slow and only heard 2 guys say they had a fish, or fought fish.
2 fish, all those boats, it didn’t look good. My goal was to troll through the typical 50 to 47, and told Bryan if no one is getting them out here, and we don’t have any knockdowns by the time we get out to the 47, then they aren’t out there. They are up feeding, just not out there, so let’s go look for them on the inside. Nada all the way out to the 47, so we headed back inside of the 50. We pass back by the 50 and still heading in, about 1-½ hours on the troll and still nothing, the radio was still quiet. Typical slow night. We were on the 53.5 when ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ fish on. It hit the right long, about 15 yds back, at the surface, Pearl Transformer with green/yellow lightsticks, in a chugger lure.

This is the lure lit-up with Pearl Transformer.
Kept the boat at speed, about 7 knts, in case of a double header, and to keep tension on the fish. I cleared the other lines while Bryan was on the reel. It made a few nice runs but didn’t act like a big fish. It taped out at about 50” and the first swordy on Bryans new boat. It was just the 2 of us, so we had plenty of meat. The rum flowed, and we headed in.
1 ½-2 hours max, and we covered water from the 50 out to the 47, and back in again to the 53.5.
1 for 1 trolling, 100% hook-up ratio. Not a big fish but a keeper, the first on Bryan’s boat, and plenty of meat for 2 families, and a few friends.
We would have continued trolling the inside if there were more people onboard to feed.
Trolling for swordfish is so easy, almost no prep work. Anyone who can troll for Dolphin can troll for swordfish.

Bryan, with his first swordy on his boat.
Caught with Pearl Transformer.

Stewart, this sure beats what I was doing which was to drill holes in the back of Superchugger heads and insert the lights.

Our issue out here in SoCal is sharks. I'm slow trolling mainly off the downrigger, but I have run the super chuggers with squid strips off the outriggers on the surface at the same time (Kenya method, where it was developed). These surface lures get slammed by makos, which we don't want. I also had a rig on the dowrigger at the same time which limited my speed. I know from tagging studies that the swords are in the top 25 meters of the water column about 100% of the time at night off SoCal. The makos are in the top 12 meters about 85% of the time. I've been able to eliminate nearly all mako bites by keep the rigs down about 60' on the downrigger. However, you don't cover much ground at 3 knots when using the downrigger. Off SoCal we don't have the concentration of swords and no current, so we need to be moving. Although we get bit by makos while trolling marlin during the day at 7 knots, it is much reduced from what you'd experience while trolling 3 knots on the surface at night (total swarm effect there). So I'm thinking that a surface trolling spread at night could be effective off SoCal. Guess I need to get a grip of your transformers.