Cayman Swordfish Challenge

[Tunaking]

Caymans first ever swordfish challenge was a success!.

First up on Friday evening 19 October, there was a swordfishing seminar by visiting experts and local captains:

Visiting experts were:
Capt Bouncer Smith 40 years experience with swordfish to over 500 pounds. Featured on TV fishing shows, in fishing magazines and seminars around the U. S.

Captain Steve Huddleston devoted to swordfishing for over 10 years. Hundreds of swordfish catches up to over 400 pounds.

Captain Harry Vernon, son of the legendary 'friend of the Cayamn Islands' Captain Harry. 2nd generation proprietor of Captain Harry's Fishing Supply. An avid fisherman all his life.

Jeffrey Liederman, experienced as crew for the famous Miss Britt charter boat of Miami Florida. Numerous swordfish experiences both day and night. A well known big game mate throughout the Carribean.

Captain Alex Castellanos, a highly experienced captain aboard the Miss Britt fishing fleet in Miami. Alex has guided hundreds of anglers to their first swordfish.

Captain Joe McGivern, captain of the Night Crawler, a full time swordfish charterboat out of Fort Lauderdale Florida. Joe has built his name as a top swordfish guide in south Florida.

Sherman Huffman, Sherman has worked as a mate out of south Florida for years. He has studied under Captain Bouncer Smith for the last 8 months.

On Sat morning 20 October there was an open Bait & tackle rigging session enabling anybody to come learn how the pros do it - interesting how many different opinions and ways there were!

Fishing was from 5.00pm Sat until 2.00am Sun.

Although only one swordfish was landed - weighing in at 189.7 LB there were many slashed baits and quite a few hooked. Myself, my brother and another friend had the pleasure of fishing with Jeff Liederman. Nothing like hands on experience for learning. Did one daylight deep drop (manually - no electric was allowed) to 1600' - lost both squid baits to small fish (didn't have fish baits) and of course couldn't get the weight to pop off until almost back to boat! (it's not that bad - a good workout). Of course at 2.02am when we are pulling lines in I find out that I have one on (#1 for those who know). Called in hooked up even though tourney over - after getting to 100' from boat it comes unwrapped - live bait... oh well, at least we know how to "do it" now. Couldn't get out this past weekend as nasty, hopefully be reporting a catch next weekend.
A bigeye thresher shark of 235.6 LB was also landed. A total of 16 boats took part.

For more info and pictures go to Cayman Swordfish Challenge

Note the Jamaican canoe ("Run Things") that caught the swordfish - 28' long w/ a 5' beam -this makes number six for them caught in Cayman.

[Captain Joe McGivern]

Mark,

It was a great time! Can't wait till next yr! I will be down there soon for the wahoo! I will give you a shout! Stay in touch!

[DIRTYFOOT2]

Love the canoe. That is an awesome catch from such a sweet little sled. Bet he's not crying about fuel cost.

[snooknreds2]

Captain Joe,
Glade it all worked out for you and every one else involved

The caymans are beautiful and a great place to be at any time!!

Maybe next year I can meet you guys down there and fish it with one of the locals I know...who knows maybe we might have to go down and do a couple practice runs.

Do you know where abouts the fish was caught? also where was the tourney based out of, YES I know grand cayman is not that big but I am curious if you guys departed from the west end, which is what i would imagine

[Captain Joe McGivern]

Reds,

It was a blast! Everyone down there was great. We fished on the Nw corner of the island and the fish was caught on the South Side. All of the boats except for the winner fished on the north side. Definetly plenty of swordies down there. Just have to put plenty of time in and pay your dues!

Mark,

I owe you a few

[Tunaking]

Just a bynote - Charles Ebanks (the little guy in the pics) just got confirmation in September of his new world record Escolar. Caught in July it tipped the scales at 151 lbs!! Old record was only 88 lbs.