9/10 Sword Report 2/3

[FishNFreak68]

We will call this one Okuma redemption........
We headed out the sword grounds with a nasty a$$ storm following behind us. Set up around 8-20 pm for a drift south of the lumps. About an hour into it we see our short jug rod dip and then a sword explodes on the surface jumping and greyhounding with the LP light flashing all over the place what a show!!! He had hit a squid 200' down with a green lp & strobe.

Arty grabs the rod (tld 50) and puts the heat on em and has him boatside in less than 10 mintues. (this is where I wish I had the swordslasher harpoon!) I gaff the fish and together we hoist him over the gunnel. A nice 57 incher. This fish then proceeds to do the "death slap" for a straight five minutes cutting up my bolsters and scratching the hell out the boat with it's sword. He had hit a squid 200' down with a green lp & strobe. All this while we had retreated to the front of the boat. As the fish is thrashing the long jug rod starts swimming off then screaming the reel. But this rod is positioned right next to the sword of the flailing fish.

I manuever my way to the rod carefully but once I get there the fish had come off . At the same time the storm that was just north of us started converging with a storm that was to the south west of us and the weather was getting really hairy!!! Lighting show was intense. So we say we are going to start picking up. No sooner do those words come out of my mouth the 200' tip rods goes off with another fish. All three bites came within 20minutes of each other.

It was my turn on the rod and low & behold what rod is it on? The exact same Okuma that had died on my on my last outing. The reel had been repaired free of charge by the guys at Okuma and sent back within 3 days. Luckily they had upgraded the drag system cause this fish put it to the test. I pushed that baby up to max and had 20 lbs of pressure on the fish and he was peeling drag like a train. After a 25 minute battle the fish comes up and we proceed to gaff and bring him on board a sweet 62" fish that was FAT!!! This guy hit the 200 tip with the new "lp Spectrum (disco) light Thanks Jahmussa (tek) it worked like a charm.

I was beat down after that fight and we called it a night. We dawned the rain gear and took out the emergency gear just in case and headed in. It was one heck of a storm we headed into but God was with us, the worst we got was 2-3 foot seas and a steasdy drizzle. Made it back to the dock at 10:55pm.

It sure is a lot of work but the rewards are endless. A story to tell, pictures to share and some fresh sword slabs are in the smoker as I type.

Here are some pics....
Me with the two fish & Okuma

Arty with the fish

Arty with the 62"

[Mike]

Awesome. You guys are on fire. hb

[Venice Tunaman]

Very nice work. COngrats

[Anonymous]

Congradulations and I am glad the Okuma held up. I contacted Okuma on Friday to find out if the reel that they repaired for me has the upgraded drag system or not. I have to call back today 9/12 and give them a reel #, and then they will let me know.

I still have to tell you the Service Center at Okuma is a 1st Class operation. They did all that needed to be done to the reel and had it back to me within a week.

[LegalLimit]

Very nice. Sounds like you guys made short work of it.

[cubanpuerto]

Nice work guys.
But whats up with the swordfish on the rights eye? I dont see one. lol.

Dave