daytime dropping off the Key West wall

[DM]

I spent the first week of lobster season in Key West and we tried deep dropping- in 1,200 ft. I read an article about daytime sword fishing and wanted to giver it a try off the “Wall” 19 miles south of KW.

We were rigged with a 2 speed Shimano 50 wide Tiagra with 800 yd of 80 spectra with a 100 yd top shot of 80 mono and a 50-100 lb class internal tuna stick. The business end had a battery operated green/blue LED light, 20 ft of 480 lb cable, a 10/0 hook with a 12 inch squid. The weight was 10 lbs of bricks rigged to a 10 ft section of break away mono. The current was only running about 1 knot over the East crack of the wall and I felt the weight hit the bottom just west of the crack 1,200 feet below.

Were going to drift over deeper water, so we started lunch and the waiting. After 15 minutes of eating, the clicker on the reel went off for 5 seconds and at first I thought I had snagged the bottom, but the sonar was showing 1300 ft. The reel then starts a 30 second run of line running out very fast, against 15 lbs of drag - we were not snagged on the bottom! I didn’t have a standup harness, so we kept the rod in the gunnel rod holder and began cranking. The fish came up probably 600 ft very quickly and we were gaining line as fast as we could crank with the reel in high speed. The fish quickly decided it wanted no part of that action and took numerous runs.

Andrea and I kept switching off cranking duties and after 1 hour, the mono topshot was on the reel and after another 50 minutes we saw an enormous tail. I’ve been on a boat that landed a 110 sword on 80 lb tackle and was sure this was a much bigger fish. We finally got the fish up to get a good look and it wasn’t a swordfish, but a big thresher shark.

The fish was alongside the boat with his head even with the front of my console and the tail extended past the transom- about 15 feet. I wanted the $45 LED light back and in the midst cutting the line that connected the light to the swivel, the knife hit the main line before we could get a picture. After the exhilaration and fatigue of 2 hours of cranking in the hot sun, we ran back to KW.

[Max'd Out]

Wow, too bad it wasn't a sword. Did you rocket the squid to the bottom and then break away the big weight? What weight did you use to hold bottom, if you did break it away? I guess you kept the line straight up and down using your engines. Can't wait to try the daytime swording.

[sworddoc]

Wow, those threshers are tough. That tail is a real weapon too. Nice job.

[LIGHTS OUT]

Nice report. Those threashers are cool looking fish.

[Thumper235]

Very cool reoprt!!! It won't be long before we start catching daytime swords on a regular basis.

[Capt Trigger]

Way to go!! Those threshers (better known as the #2000 planer ) are truly awesome fish, and will hurt you if you let them. Keep at it and you'll get a swordie soon enough.

Capt Trigger

[catching]

Originally Posted by Thumper235

Very cool reoprt!!! It won't be long before we start catching daytime swords on a regular basis.

Nice catch

I am ready for a daytime Sword, have had a couple hits but they did not get hooked

[DM]

I tried to keep the squid deep and didn't try to break the bricks off. I figured the movement after a hookup would wear through the 50 lb mono and it did. I don't know how fast the mono wore through.

The current was running around 1 knot and the wind was very calm (< 5 knots), so I didin't use the motors- we just drifted to the Southeast and the line was running straight up and down as far down as I could see.

The weights were 2 patio brick pavers from Home Depot. I drilled a 1/4 inch hole about 1 inch from the edge to run the mono through. I used 2 pavers and their combined weight was about 11 lbs. The pavers were 75 cents apiece.

I was using a 20 ft stainless leader in case I hooked a mako or big shark- just in case. I was on a boat off Venice, LA (Lumps) last February that hooked 10 ft mako that quickly wore through 80 lb test with a short 10 ft, 200 lb test single strand leader.

I was hoping we would attract some dolphin while drifting and had a couple of 30 lb class spinning rods with ballyhoo tipped jigs ready, but the only fish we saw around the boat while drifting was a 4 ft shark.

[FinalPoint]

Thanks for the info. Glad you got tight on something.

[Disco Lady]

CONO!!!!!! GREAT REPORT KEEP TRYING CAPT.

Tight Lines! DL,

[Sopla2o]

WOW 11 pounds of weight.... I can't imagine sending a brick down... WOW awesome report....

[Sword Hunter]

not that bad u guys need to do it like they shark fish on the charter boats

[Sword Hunter]

straight 120+ power pro 80tw or for shallower water use wire line with 5-10 lbs. You must man the rod so you dont drag and hang and so u can feel the bite. Power driftiing takes some practice. I think it helps to know where they are hanging in the day time. They are on the bottom, but Ive seen them caught from 300ft -3000ft in the day on the bottom. I think there is a major secret u guys lack. I have a few tricks that might seperate me from the pack I just need the right rods tackle and boat.

[Uncle Buck]

Originally Posted by Sword Hunter

I think there is a major secret u guys lack.

Wanna get drunk at a bar some night?

I think we can all figure out how to get a bait to the bottom during the day. Plenty of weight and plenty of line. The trick is how to get a bite. Also, our infamous 3+ knot Gulfstream current doesn't help our daytime deep drop swordfish odds in the Straits. The Keys have the advantage of less current in certain places. I honestly think THAT is the primary reason we have not heard of more daytime sword hook-ups off the Southeast coast.

[reeltherapy]

Originally Posted by Uncle Buck

Wanna get drunk at a bar some night?

I think we can all figure out how to get a bait to the bottom during the day. Plenty of weight and plenty of line. The trick is how to get a bite. Also, our infamous 3+ knot Gulfstream current doesn't help our daytime deep drop swordfish odds in the Straits. The Keys have the advantage of less current in certain places. I honestly think THAT is the primary reason we have not heard of more daytime sword hook-ups off the Southeast coast.

Buck,

I'd agree with you on the current. When it's cruisin it's bruisin to keep em down.

[Disco Lady]

[Ed Walker]

Heres what I gather from talk around the docks and tackle shops here in the lower Keys.
The general set up is a 1 pound weight on the top of the leader and a big brick weight at the bottom of the rig to take it down. The weight IS broken away once you hit the bottom, leaving you with a fairly common rig (I guess-have yet to even try it myself but I am very fired up about it) down toward 1500 feet.
Im almost afraid to say where exactly. Seems like Id be selling the founding fathers out so Ill pay them some respect and leave that part out. Then again, Im going on heresay so I may not really know anyway.