Jupiter Swordin 7/6/07

[JupiterSailfish]

Left the ramp in the rain with GrouperGirl, ALW, PlanB, Monoman, and myself of course. Ran out the inlet with an awesome sunset and rainbow. Get setup of Palm Beach I think and wait. The weather cleared out nicely and it was a beautiful night.



After about 45 minutes when we are about to check baits, the tip rod up front starts screamin. Get Monoman cranking on the rod from the gunnel and up pops nice first fish. I go to grab the leader and the fish sprays us with water as he sees Adam and John and goes back down 20ft. Comes back up and I grab the bill. Great work Monoman on the first Fish tapes out at 44"



Check the baits which yields a cut off hook, pretty **** clean cut too. Some slashed baits and Squid attacks throughout the night.

We had tons of bait around the light. Watched a fish zoom through the light a couple times, but couldn't get him to eat. He looked legal though.



Called it at 1 and headed home with a glass calm sea. Thanks again John

Monoman, ALW, and Groupergirl

Back at it again tonight I think :usa:



The last three trips we have busted three cherries

[pelagic predator]

Nice report. sweet pics.

[Brand H]

Nice report! Glad they are still biting.

[Gaitor]

Nice Report J S .... very nice pics as well .
A bigger one waits!

[Mud Dart]

[DIRTYFOOT2]

Nice call Mud. Luv da graphics. Can I get me a T-chirt

[Nick C]

Originally Posted by Mud Dart

yea that was gay

[Nick C]

80% of the pups you catch and I catch and don't remove from the water die anyway I bet. It was the dudes first fish..... chill the **** out

[FinalPoint]

Ha. I thought it was funny. You are too sensitive, Nick. That's why the women like Jr. better than you.

So who is the illusive Mud Dart?

[Captain Juan]

From the photo that fish was frisky and all lit up and they were carrying it exactly how you're supposed to if you are going to quickly lift it for a quick photo....supporting the belly and not hoisting it up by the bill.

Does someone have a link or stats on swordfish survival rates when released? I have seen a few posts suggesting they don't do that well especially after long fights, but I'd like to see some research.

Re: mud dart - kind of a pesimistic graphic. I recall someone using that terminology during the Osprey - Bouy gear debate.

High tides.

Juan

[FinalPoint]

Originally Posted by DIRTYFOOT2

Nice call Mud. Luv da graphics. Can I get me a T-chirt

I want a t-shirt too. Maybe I will make them and just have to cite the anonymous mud darter.

To be honest - that fish looks like it is in really good shape. You never can tell until they swim out of your hands(or float or sink), though, I suppose.

[DIRTYFOOT2]

The graphic is poignant and humorus...If they are all mud darts anyway, what would be the point in taggin em?

[Mud Dart]

Thanks DF...Glad to see you got the point.

This was not meant to be a slam to anyone, just an eye opener for some. I’m tired of all the conservation talk on here. Then to see someone taking pictures with tiny fish and people congratulating them.

You should do it all the way...or don't bother at all... Especially if…

Originally Posted by Nick C

80% of the pups you catch and I catch and don't remove from the water die anyway I bet.

I “bet” taking them out helps that 20% survival rate? Right?

[Ron.38 Special]

Not a lot of real science out there about sword releases.

First of all, almost all swordfish research has been done with longlines, and being a commercial fish, release survival wasn't a big priority.

Some research was done mainly on tuna in the Gulf, with circle hooks, and some swordfish data was gathered in that research. It wasn't release research, but it did look at survival on the hook. The data suggests that even with circle hooks, a juvenile sword on a longline 2 hours was dead 50% of the time. Research used hook timers, etc. to look at soak time affects of circle hook.

Nearly all other research is PLL data. Of course there are the few sat tags from NMFS, and the Sail club tags, but statistically they have little data to look at release survival. In fact all rec tagged fish lived, but of course the tags were put in healthy fish to begin with.

NMFS and VIMS has done a lot of circle hook research on White Marlin, and UM has done the stuff on sailfish, but to date, no one has taken on a research project to specifically look at release survival for swordfish.

Assumptions which can be made when you take into consideration things to include, where it was hooked and how deep, was the hook removed, was the fish revived, and did it swim away.

If it floats behind the boat, is it a mud dart?

Just remember this thread when NMFS makes us start using circle hooks...... Its coming.......

And another important fact.... No one is going to fund this type of research unless its the rec community!

[JupiterSailfish]

The fish never touched the deck and swam away perfect. Time spent out of water max, 1:34. I didn't see a target in the water when he swam away so he looked good when we let him go.

Thanks guys