405 lb Sword Caught about an inflatable zodiac!!!

Tim · 10-29-2003, 02:16 PM

Here is the story that Jcwell brought up in a different topic.. interesting.

"The whole story

To answer your question we just fish for fun on the weekends. We have had the same crew for the last three years and make around 20 trips a year, so we have a pretty good idea what we are doing out there. Anyway here is the story.

The owner of the boat “On the Edge” a 65 Viking and the gentleman in the picture loves launch his little 14 inflatable zodiac on calm days to go tuna fishing and pot hopping for mahi. Anyway this past Monday 9/2 we arrived on the east wall of the Hudson and set up just before sundown. The weather was ok so we launched the little boat and went out in search of tuna. We loaded all the necessary safety equipment, bait, a four foot gaff with a six inch gap, and two standup rods. The rods were two stand-up rods in the 5 foot range. The 50-80 rod had a penn 50vsw and 80lb line. The other rod rated for 80-130 lbs was spooled with 100 line.
After two hours of fishing and a small run off to show for our efforts we decided to head in and grab dinner. In the middle of my burger the 70 goes off, I jump back in the zodiac and we quickly boat a 50 pound yellowfin tuna. After inspecting the main line and the 80 lb. fluorocarbon I sent a whole butterfish down 80 ft to the depth we had just caught the yellow. Yes, I know I probably should have retied!!! Moments later the same rod takes off and we new we had a good fish on–I though bigeye. The fish headed under the starboard rigger and sounded deep three hundred yards off the bow of the boat. Then the fish started to move, and despite my best efforts to lead the fish with the boat away from the big boat and any other hazards, the fish was able to make one huge, half mile circle around the big boat. The second time we were forced to pass the pots the fish dove deep and I was certain it was lost. Somehow the fish stayed on and we avoided losing it. The swordfish at this point surfaced and was almost the size of the skiff.

At this point we managed to get him out and away from the boat. By 12:15am, two hours and fifteen minutes into the fight, we are around 3/4 of a mile to a mile away from the boat. At this point we are severely under gunned: all we have is a the above mentioned gaff. I tied the gaff to a safety line and hoped the fish would not go ballistic when it was stuck. Fifteen minutes later we had the massive fish boatside. We stuck the fish and the gaff shot held. The angler, John, got a tail rope on the trashing fish while I held the gaff. After the tail was on, I passed the gaff to John, I wrapped another safety line around the girth of the fish. The fish was secure and we towed it back to the boat . The fish, however, managed to puncture a hole in right side of the skiff. We made it back to the big boat with and unloaded the big fish which measured in at 11'9"inches. The next day it weighted 405 pounds. We also limited out on yellowfin tuna with an 8 man crew that night. It was an unbelievable trip. Well here is my story. I hope you all enjoy. BTW, I heard another boat had a 365 sword this weekend in the hudson.

Michael"

Mike · 10-29-2003, 02:28 PM

Nice Fish and even bettter story... I wouldn't of believed it without a picture and even then it is still have to belive... Not sure where the drop off is up there.. but good fishing non the less. You guys have it made for tuna up there!

Christina · 10-29-2003, 02:33 PM

Nice fish. Looks cold up there! I've only fished on calm summer days so far, I'm looking foward to the winter sword fishing.

imported_Anonymous · 10-29-2003, 02:44 PM

405lbs is a nice fish. I fish 2 50's and 2 80's. Unfortunately, the one time I put a 30 out, I get the biggest sword yet on that spooled me. My biggest sword so far out of west palm is 90lbs. Very fun fish!

Congrats on the catch!

BuddyThoug · 03-02-2007, 01:50 PM

Looks like a 1 in a million catch...Con grats!!!

Liquid Gold · 03-02-2007, 03:34 PM

It was a great catch!! I believe they got that fish two seasons ago up in the Hudson Canyon. I remember watching them get towed around the fleet that night! In the canyons up there many anchor so these guys having that zodiac ready was a huge help to land a fish that big! This story was also featured in an article Michael wrote for the big game journal a few months back.

Capt. Justin

10-29-2003, 02:16 PM	#1 (permalink)
Tim Lines In Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 77	405 lb Sword Caught about an inflatable zodiac!!! Here is the story that Jcwell brought up in a different topic.. interesting. "The whole story To answer your question we just fish for fun on the weekends. We have had the same crew for the last three years and make around 20 trips a year, so we have a pretty good idea what we are doing out there. Anyway here is the story. The owner of the boat “On the Edge” a 65 Viking and the gentleman in the picture loves launch his little 14 inflatable zodiac on calm days to go tuna fishing and pot hopping for mahi. Anyway this past Monday 9/2 we arrived on the east wall of the Hudson and set up just before sundown. The weather was ok so we launched the little boat and went out in search of tuna. We loaded all the necessary safety equipment, bait, a four foot gaff with a six inch gap, and two standup rods. The rods were two stand-up rods in the 5 foot range. The 50-80 rod had a penn 50vsw and 80lb line. The other rod rated for 80-130 lbs was spooled with 100 line. After two hours of fishing and a small run off to show for our efforts we decided to head in and grab dinner. In the middle of my burger the 70 goes off, I jump back in the zodiac and we quickly boat a 50 pound yellowfin tuna. After inspecting the main line and the 80 lb. fluorocarbon I sent a whole butterfish down 80 ft to the depth we had just caught the yellow. Yes, I know I probably should have retied!!! Moments later the same rod takes off and we new we had a good fish on–I though bigeye. The fish headed under the starboard rigger and sounded deep three hundred yards off the bow of the boat. Then the fish started to move, and despite my best efforts to lead the fish with the boat away from the big boat and any other hazards, the fish was able to make one huge, half mile circle around the big boat. The second time we were forced to pass the pots the fish dove deep and I was certain it was lost. Somehow the fish stayed on and we avoided losing it. The swordfish at this point surfaced and was almost the size of the skiff. At this point we managed to get him out and away from the boat. By 12:15am, two hours and fifteen minutes into the fight, we are around 3/4 of a mile to a mile away from the boat. At this point we are severely under gunned: all we have is a the above mentioned gaff. I tied the gaff to a safety line and hoped the fish would not go ballistic when it was stuck. Fifteen minutes later we had the massive fish boatside. We stuck the fish and the gaff shot held. The angler, John, got a tail rope on the trashing fish while I held the gaff. After the tail was on, I passed the gaff to John, I wrapped another safety line around the girth of the fish. The fish was secure and we towed it back to the boat . The fish, however, managed to puncture a hole in right side of the skiff. We made it back to the big boat with and unloaded the big fish which measured in at 11'9"inches. The next day it weighted 405 pounds. We also limited out on yellowfin tuna with an 8 man crew that night. It was an unbelievable trip. Well here is my story. I hope you all enjoy. BTW, I heard another boat had a 365 sword this weekend in the hudson. Michael"

03-02-2007, 01:50 PM	#5 (permalink)
BuddyThoug Lines In Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: DeerField Beach Boat: Bayliner Best Catch: SwordFish Macco Thresher BlackFin Posts: 22	Looks like a 1 in a million catch...Con grats!!! __________________ Any Day awake befor Noon is a Good Day

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10-29-2003, 02:28 PM	#2 (permalink)
Mike Grander Join Date: May 2004 Location: Fort Lauderdale, FL Boat: Coming Soon! Best Catch: 250lb Swordfish Posts: 1,362	Nice Fish and even bettter story... I wouldn't of believed it without a picture and even then it is still have to belive... Not sure where the drop off is up there.. but good fishing non the less. You guys have it made for tuna up there!

10-29-2003, 02:33 PM	#3 (permalink)
Christina Grunt Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 7	Nice fish. Looks cold up there! I've only fished on calm summer days so far, I'm looking foward to the winter sword fishing.

10-29-2003, 02:44 PM	#4 (permalink)
imported_Anonymous Lines In Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 80	405lbs is a nice fish. I fish 2 50's and 2 80's. Unfortunately, the one time I put a 30 out, I get the biggest sword yet on that spooled me. My biggest sword so far out of west palm is 90lbs. Very fun fish! Congrats on the catch!

03-02-2007, 03:34 PM	#6 (permalink)
Liquid Gold Lines In Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Miami, FL Boat: 35' Cabo Exp Occupation: Captain Posts: 28	It was a great catch!! I believe they got that fish two seasons ago up in the Hudson Canyon. I remember watching them get towed around the fleet that night! In the canyons up there many anchor so these guys having that zodiac ready was a huge help to land a fish that big! This story was also featured in an article Michael wrote for the big game journal a few months back. Capt. Justin

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