Venice Swordfish 7/13 report

Captain Mike Ellis · 07-17-2006, 10:04 AM

I fished the guys from C&T Custom Renovations on thursday night for a sword only charter. Theses guys have never caught a sword before and they had heard how they fight. They were not to be disappointed.
The night started out pretty slow we had a east west drift instead of our normal deep to shallow drift. So it took a few drifts to find the depth they were in. But once we did it was pretty stupid fishing. But up until then we had a few sword imposters namely sharks. But it gave everyone a idea of what to expect when a sword finaly eats the bait. We constantly had magnum turbo sized hardtails in the light along with gogs and a handful of squid and a few 3" dolphin. So making a few livebaits was pretty easy.
Finaly with my crew wondering if there were any swordfish in the gulf. The tip rod with a magnum turbo runner on it gets smoked. But I was never able to get tight on the fish. When the bait was reeled in it had a slash that just about cut it in two. Trey wondered if it was a shark but I assured him a shark would of found the hook. So now the confidence level is back in my crew. And with the swordfish having the upper hand it is now personal. I reset the tip rod and the 200' line with a squid gets nailed but once again I didn't get tight on the fish. Now we are 0 for two but everything was about to change in our favor.
Once again the runner gets whacked and about three feet of line was pulled from the 50W then nothing. But before I could reel in what I thought was another slashed bait. Kyle asks me to check out something on the other side of the boat. It wasn't a fish but it was my disco electralume swimming away from the boat. This fish hit a 300' and went right for the surface. So around the engines with the rod and finaly we are tight on a sword. It gave us a few jumps and settled into his comfort zone but with 20lbs at strike we had the fish to the boat pretty quickly. I gaffed it a pulled it into the boat only to find it was perfectly lassoed behind the gill plates. It measured out at 49" and since it was leagal and a very fat fish and my anglers first. I gutted him and iced him down. Now I have a idea on where to reset my lines. I went right back to my man overboard mark and as I was setting out the second line the 200' line gets hit. I came tight on the fish and put Kyle in the harness this fish didn't do much at all when he popped up at the boat I could only see a few feet of my leader. I guess the hook had done some major damage to this fish. He was barly legal but legal so we kept him instead of feeding him to the sharks.
The next drift I was able to get all of the baits out before we got a hit. And again it was on the 200' line. When I came tight on the fish I could tell it was a better fish than the other two in the box so another angler was harnessed in and the fight was on. I readied the harpoon and went over what I wanted everyone to do. After the hour and ten minute mark the fish started to tire and we were able to gain line on him. When he got close I harpooned him and pulled him into the boat. This fish measured out at 62"X39" and later weighed in at 133.7lbs which is good enough for number eight in the state of Louisana. It not a big one for South Florida but not many guys fish them over here. And the fishery is still unexplored.
Now with our three fish in the box. Well two in the box and the bill of the last fish sticking out of it. I reset for our last drift since I only had one squid left. As it got into postion the jug pops off and we are tight again to another fish. Kyle gets another shot on this fish since the one he had in the boat was pretty small and didn't put up much of a fight. He did a good job on the fish with the drag at sunset. I wanted to see what kind of heat I could put on a fish without the hook pulling and I was going to release the fish anyway. We got him to the boat real quick. So I grabbed the gloves and billed him only to have the hook fall out. Which was perfect but with him being green and not very happy I had him by the nose I let him go without a measurement. But he looked to be in the low 50" range. Now I was wishing I wouldn't of killed the smaller fish. But he was gut hooked and was going to die. So I did the right thing. We cleaned the boat up and everyone was pleased with going 4 for 6 for the night. My next sword trip is on the 18th. But I have several days of tuna fishing after that so it might take a week for the outcome to be posted.
Capt. Mike

Shark Tagger · 07-17-2006, 10:10 AM

You are doing better than we are!! I havent had a solid 6 bite night in atleast 30 trips... I think it was bout 2 years ago in which we went 4 for 8.

We've had our share of 3-4 bite nights in between.. but we are in slump on my boat.

Thanks for the report.. You are have some great fishing..

FinalPoint · 07-17-2006, 11:41 AM

Sweeeeet.
I'm moving to Venice.

Broadbill · 07-17-2006, 01:06 PM

You better be careful with those reports, it's going to look like a Christmas light parade around you soon! Congratulations on a great night. You did the right thing keeping the little one, these fish are hard enough to revive as it is (esp. hooked deep).

Disco Lady · 07-17-2006, 01:25 PM

Cheers! C

N

!!!! Venice Rocks....

Captain Ollie · 07-17-2006, 01:52 PM

Nice fish. Apparently most of our swords packed their bags and moved over there. This is so far the least productive summer in years off this area.

What kind of run do you guys have to the grounds?

Captain Mike Ellis · 07-17-2006, 03:54 PM

We can be fishing in as little as 35 miles or so. As far as people getting into swordfishing. I am sure that it will happen sooner or later. But nobody sells sword gear over here so that keeps alot of guys from trying. It's nice right now there are maybe three or four guys doing it right now.
Capt. Mike

Leigh Allen · 07-17-2006, 05:24 PM

Can any of you guys tell me how to order rigged squid? The guy on this site who advertises: "I sell rigged swordfish bait" or whatever has not responded to my calls or emails. I called P&P Saturday but they were too busy to take my order and told me to call back in an hour, and then never answered their phones. I will purchase as many as I have to at a time. Need mail delivery to Alabama by Friday morning. Any ideas?

Relentless33 · 07-17-2006, 06:38 PM

Haha, way to go Nick C !!!

:roflmao: There is someone else, Tek, from Reel Pro Shop may be able to help you out, I'm not to sure if they are going to ship to Alabama though. Hope for the best, good luck :!: :!:

just2fish · 07-17-2006, 08:12 PM

baitmasters in miami... 305 751 7007 ask for rey, tell him ray sent you. does anyone want to split a flat of squid.... this $12.00 for 4 suxx...

Relentless33 · 07-17-2006, 09:01 PM

Leigh Allen: Call Custom Rod and Reel in Lighthouse Point, FL. 954.781.5600 Ask for Tom Greene and let him know Dakotah and Rich Gould sent you. He'll hook you up with everything you will need, from rods to leaders, to bait, to lights. He shouldn't have a single problem with packaging a few things and sending them your way.

Islander · 07-17-2006, 09:24 PM

Congratulations mike

Looks like you have got it tuned in.

Nick C · 07-17-2006, 10:20 PM

WTG Mike! If Johnny comes over before he goes off to school, I'm riding in the back or on the roof. I gotta get over there!!!!

Shoot! Squid to Alabama... Dangit! wish I would have seen this sooner I'd be happy to ship out some baits to the gulf. My cell phone is swimming with the fishes, but I'll be back up tomorrow. 561 504 1038. Mike, if you need some rigged ones, I'll hook you up no charge.

knotreel · 07-17-2006, 10:54 PM

Congratulations to Mike, he is making it look easy. Our fishery for rec swords has been next to nothing for some years althought "they" used to catch a lot. If you saw where we fish, there is all sorts of good looking spots for them, lots of interesting drop offs ect so that makes Mike's run ever more impressive to zero in on a some good spots out of all the possible ones. I too fish from Venice and I am 0 for 4 trips some bites but no hookups, yet! I guess I will have to look for me some new spots but i just know they are in my "spot". I have a tendency to be a bit hardheaded.
My best shot might be to go on a charter with Mike!
I am impressed and just a bit jealous.

Hammer

Captain Mike Ellis · 07-18-2006, 09:17 AM

Nick, I know Johnny is palnning to come up here. Just weasel your way into the truck. As far as squid I goes have two flats of killer sized baits. Thanks for the offer. I am leaving to go to Venice for five days in a hour or so to sword and tuna fish. Hopefully I can get that 300 plus sword before October. I will post my report when I get back. And Hammer the best tip I can give you is a swordfish is a swordfish no matter where they swim.
Capt. Mike

Lobstababe · 07-18-2006, 10:39 AM

Very nice report Mike!

Venice Tunaman · 07-18-2006, 10:53 AM

wtg capt mike. I look forward to your next report

drillem · 07-18-2006, 03:34 PM

how can your client get a state record after you hooked the fish and passed it off. i thought the rod can not be touched by anyone else except the angler.

JahMussa · 07-19-2006, 06:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Leigh Allen

Can any of you guys tell me how to order rigged squid? The guy on this site who advertises: "I sell rigged swordfish bait" or whatever has not responded to my calls or emails. I called P&P Saturday but they were too busy to take my order and told me to call back in an hour, and then never answered their phones. I will purchase as many as I have to at a time. Need mail delivery to Alabama by Friday morning. Any ideas?

I have sent Flats to Mike along with some as far as Arkansas. If you need Flats of really nice Squid... delivered by Friday morning.... call me asap. 561.654.7873 and I'll make it happen.

-Tek

07-17-2006, 10:04 AM	#1 (permalink)
Captain Mike Ellis Charter Captain Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 134	Venice Swordfish 7/13 report I fished the guys from C&T Custom Renovations on thursday night for a sword only charter. Theses guys have never caught a sword before and they had heard how they fight. They were not to be disappointed. The night started out pretty slow we had a east west drift instead of our normal deep to shallow drift. So it took a few drifts to find the depth they were in. But once we did it was pretty stupid fishing. But up until then we had a few sword imposters namely sharks. But it gave everyone a idea of what to expect when a sword finaly eats the bait. We constantly had magnum turbo sized hardtails in the light along with gogs and a handful of squid and a few 3" dolphin. So making a few livebaits was pretty easy. Finaly with my crew wondering if there were any swordfish in the gulf. The tip rod with a magnum turbo runner on it gets smoked. But I was never able to get tight on the fish. When the bait was reeled in it had a slash that just about cut it in two. Trey wondered if it was a shark but I assured him a shark would of found the hook. So now the confidence level is back in my crew. And with the swordfish having the upper hand it is now personal. I reset the tip rod and the 200' line with a squid gets nailed but once again I didn't get tight on the fish. Now we are 0 for two but everything was about to change in our favor. Once again the runner gets whacked and about three feet of line was pulled from the 50W then nothing. But before I could reel in what I thought was another slashed bait. Kyle asks me to check out something on the other side of the boat. It wasn't a fish but it was my disco electralume swimming away from the boat. This fish hit a 300' and went right for the surface. So around the engines with the rod and finaly we are tight on a sword. It gave us a few jumps and settled into his comfort zone but with 20lbs at strike we had the fish to the boat pretty quickly. I gaffed it a pulled it into the boat only to find it was perfectly lassoed behind the gill plates. It measured out at 49" and since it was leagal and a very fat fish and my anglers first. I gutted him and iced him down. Now I have a idea on where to reset my lines. I went right back to my man overboard mark and as I was setting out the second line the 200' line gets hit. I came tight on the fish and put Kyle in the harness this fish didn't do much at all when he popped up at the boat I could only see a few feet of my leader. I guess the hook had done some major damage to this fish. He was barly legal but legal so we kept him instead of feeding him to the sharks. The next drift I was able to get all of the baits out before we got a hit. And again it was on the 200' line. When I came tight on the fish I could tell it was a better fish than the other two in the box so another angler was harnessed in and the fight was on. I readied the harpoon and went over what I wanted everyone to do. After the hour and ten minute mark the fish started to tire and we were able to gain line on him. When he got close I harpooned him and pulled him into the boat. This fish measured out at 62"X39" and later weighed in at 133.7lbs which is good enough for number eight in the state of Louisana. It not a big one for South Florida but not many guys fish them over here. And the fishery is still unexplored. Now with our three fish in the box. Well two in the box and the bill of the last fish sticking out of it. I reset for our last drift since I only had one squid left. As it got into postion the jug pops off and we are tight again to another fish. Kyle gets another shot on this fish since the one he had in the boat was pretty small and didn't put up much of a fight. He did a good job on the fish with the drag at sunset. I wanted to see what kind of heat I could put on a fish without the hook pulling and I was going to release the fish anyway. We got him to the boat real quick. So I grabbed the gloves and billed him only to have the hook fall out. Which was perfect but with him being green and not very happy I had him by the nose I let him go without a measurement. But he looked to be in the low 50" range. Now I was wishing I wouldn't of killed the smaller fish. But he was gut hooked and was going to die. So I did the right thing. We cleaned the boat up and everyone was pleased with going 4 for 6 for the night. My next sword trip is on the 18th. But I have several days of tuna fishing after that so it might take a week for the outcome to be posted. Capt. Mike __________________ Relentless Sportfishing Charters Venice La.

07-17-2006, 01:52 PM	#6 (permalink)
Captain Ollie Hooked Up Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Davie Florida Boat: 28 foot Kevlacat Best Catch: Strippers/Barely Legal Cheerleaders Occupation: Commercial tropical fish collector, lobster diver, bouy gear fisherman, 100ton captain Posts: 607	Nice fish. Apparently most of our swords packed their bags and moved over there. This is so far the least productive summer in years off this area. What kind of run do you guys have to the grounds? __________________ Remember that house you, or maybe your neighbor couldn't pay for? Well, now your gonna pay for it!!

07-17-2006, 03:54 PM	#7 (permalink)
Captain Mike Ellis Charter Captain Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 134	We can be fishing in as little as 35 miles or so. As far as people getting into swordfishing. I am sure that it will happen sooner or later. But nobody sells sword gear over here so that keeps alot of guys from trying. It's nice right now there are maybe three or four guys doing it right now. Capt. Mike __________________ Relentless Sportfishing Charters Venice La.

07-17-2006, 05:24 PM	#8 (permalink)
Leigh Allen Lines In Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Jackson, MS Boat: 36' Blackfin Best Catch: Double-Breasted Mattress Thrasher: 5'03"; #105 Occupation: Investment Banker Posts: 13	Rigged Bait Can any of you guys tell me how to order rigged squid? The guy on this site who advertises: "I sell rigged swordfish bait" or whatever has not responded to my calls or emails. I called P&P Saturday but they were too busy to take my order and told me to call back in an hour, and then never answered their phones. I will purchase as many as I have to at a time. Need mail delivery to Alabama by Friday morning. Any ideas?

07-17-2006, 06:38 PM	#9 (permalink)
Relentless33 Grander Join Date: Apr 2006 Best Catch: 81" sword Posts: 2,950	Haha, way to go Nick C !!! :roflmao: There is someone else, Tek, from Reel Pro Shop may be able to help you out, I'm not to sure if they are going to ship to Alabama though. Hope for the best, good luck :!: :!: __________________

07-17-2006, 10:10 AM	#2 (permalink)
Shark Tagger Hooked Up Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Sunny Isles Best Catch: 475lb Mako Occupation: Engineering Posts: 920	You are doing better than we are!! I havent had a solid 6 bite night in atleast 30 trips... I think it was bout 2 years ago in which we went 4 for 8. We've had our share of 3-4 bite nights in between.. but we are in slump on my boat. Thanks for the report.. You are have some great fishing..

07-17-2006, 11:41 AM	#3 (permalink)
FinalPoint Hooked Up Join Date: May 2004 Location: Lighthouse Pt., FL Boat: Contender 36 Fisharound Best Catch: 1183 lb. Swordfish Occupation: School Posts: 895	Sweeeeet. I'm moving to Venice.

07-17-2006, 01:06 PM	#4 (permalink)
Broadbill Hooked Up Join Date: May 2005 Location: Ft. Pierce, Fl Posts: 328	You better be careful with those reports, it's going to look like a Christmas light parade around you soon! Congratulations on a great night. You did the right thing keeping the little one, these fish are hard enough to revive as it is (esp. hooked deep).

07-17-2006, 01:25 PM	#5 (permalink)
Disco Lady Grander Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 3,182	Cheers! C N !!!! Venice Rocks....

07-17-2006, 08:12 PM	#10 (permalink)
just2fish Hooked Up Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: haulover Boat: parker 2520, 225 yamaha 4 stroke Best Catch: latin female, brown hair, 5-4 120 lbs Occupation: window tinter Posts: 544	baitmasters in miami... 305 751 7007 ask for rey, tell him ray sent you. does anyone want to split a flat of squid.... this $12.00 for 4 suxx... __________________ life's short... fish hard...

07-17-2006, 09:01 PM	#11 (permalink)
Relentless33 Grander Join Date: Apr 2006 Best Catch: 81" sword Posts: 2,950	Leigh Allen: Call Custom Rod and Reel in Lighthouse Point, FL. 954.781.5600 Ask for Tom Greene and let him know Dakotah and Rich Gould sent you. He'll hook you up with everything you will need, from rods to leaders, to bait, to lights. He shouldn't have a single problem with packaging a few things and sending them your way. __________________

07-17-2006, 09:24 PM	#12 (permalink)
Islander Hooked Up Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Vero Beach, FL. Boat: FISHING Best Catch: The next one Posts: 197	Congratulations mike Looks like you have got it tuned in.

07-17-2006, 10:20 PM	#13 (permalink)
Nick C Grander Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: 900-1600' of water Boat: 25' Bluewater(Rough C's) Best Catch: est. 120lb Tarpon on 16lb tippet(fight time was 12 min) Occupation: Squid rigger Posts: 2,159	WTG Mike! If Johnny comes over before he goes off to school, I'm riding in the back or on the roof. I gotta get over there!!!! Shoot! Squid to Alabama... Dangit! wish I would have seen this sooner I'd be happy to ship out some baits to the gulf. My cell phone is swimming with the fishes, but I'll be back up tomorrow. 561 504 1038. Mike, if you need some rigged ones, I'll hook you up no charge. __________________ "Put your buoys out... we're comin' in HOT!"

07-17-2006, 10:54 PM	#14 (permalink)
knotreel Lines In Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Louisiana Boat: Hammer, 30' custom cc Posts: 26	[b]Hats off to Mike from Hammer[/b] Congratulations to Mike, he is making it look easy. Our fishery for rec swords has been next to nothing for some years althought "they" used to catch a lot. If you saw where we fish, there is all sorts of good looking spots for them, lots of interesting drop offs ect so that makes Mike's run ever more impressive to zero in on a some good spots out of all the possible ones. I too fish from Venice and I am 0 for 4 trips some bites but no hookups, yet! I guess I will have to look for me some new spots but i just know they are in my "spot". I have a tendency to be a bit hardheaded. My best shot might be to go on a charter with Mike! I am impressed and just a bit jealous. Hammer

07-18-2006, 09:17 AM	#15 (permalink)
Captain Mike Ellis Charter Captain Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 134	Nick, I know Johnny is palnning to come up here. Just weasel your way into the truck. As far as squid I goes have two flats of killer sized baits. Thanks for the offer. I am leaving to go to Venice for five days in a hour or so to sword and tuna fish. Hopefully I can get that 300 plus sword before October. I will post my report when I get back. And Hammer the best tip I can give you is a swordfish is a swordfish no matter where they swim. Capt. Mike __________________ Relentless Sportfishing Charters Venice La.

07-18-2006, 10:39 AM	#16 (permalink)
Lobstababe Grunt Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Coral Gables, FL Posts: 10	Very nice report Mike!

07-18-2006, 10:53 AM	#17 (permalink)
Venice Tunaman Hooked Up Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Venice Louisiana Posts: 205	wtg capt mike. I look forward to your next report

07-18-2006, 03:34 PM	#18 (permalink)
drillem Grunt Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 1	state record????? how can your client get a state record after you hooked the fish and passed it off. i thought the rod can not be touched by anyone else except the angler.

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