Best swordfish bait

mlutz95 · 11-24-2007, 03:19 PM

I am going down to islamorada soon and doin some swordfishing. I know squid is great, live and dead bait is good, but what is the absolute best bait?

RiskTaker · 11-24-2007, 03:59 PM

MLutz:

Live Mokahanalili fish is the absolute best bait for Swordfish, Pacific or Atlantic. Bridle them through the eye socket like any other good sized live baits when you are in motion over the water: wind driven or a very slow troll. If no motion through the water you could change over to a rear bridle or hook in flesh rig.

These fish are extremely difficult to find in the Atlantic if at all, so you could also substitute live tinker mackeral as the next best thing, when they are available. (Winter months generally; otherwise match the prevailing bait fish found in stomach contents of your most recent catches.)

Fresh looking/tasting dead squid should not be excluded from your mix. I suppose live squid are even better, but those are also difficult to obtain.

Good luck: you will catch one as long as you are in the zone and try to fish around the time of the bite.

Remember to report your fish and you could be even cooler if you do it on-line.

CaptKen · 11-25-2007, 08:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RiskTaker

MLutz:

Live Mokahanalili fish is the absolute best bait for Swordfish,

I disagree RT
A live Elagatis Bipinnulata is the absolute best, I would give $20.00 each for a live one in the 3-5 lb range.

Bugeye · 11-25-2007, 10:22 AM

rainbow runners with a hair cut

billspilingup · 11-25-2007, 10:38 AM

The best bait? Whatever is in front of it when it decides it's time to eat.

Caught them on gogs, tinks, squid, grunts, yellowtails, blue runners...

Boboe · 11-25-2007, 11:22 AM

RiskTaker, your hawaiian named fish eludes me. It even eludes google. C'mon, fess up...

RiskTaker · 11-26-2007, 01:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Boboe

RiskTaker, your hawaiian named fish eludes me. It even eludes google. C'mon, fess up...

Ok OK, it was just a joke ! I just made up a mythical fish name. But you still did a Google search, didn't you?

I might have been inclined to do the same thing, in search of that ultimate bait.

Now I will have to investigate the bait that Capt. Ken is talking about.

Hey, the next time I am out Fort Worth way, we have to hook up and perhaps do some Snipe hunting.

Either that, or go for a record size swordfish out on the lumps.

Boboe · 11-26-2007, 09:27 AM

I figured you were putting me on, but searching google only takes a second

Then I googled Ken's fish and actually got a hit. On "Planet Earth" on Discovery last night they had a short bit featuring a school of Elagatis bipinnulata.

11-24-2007, 03:19 PM	#1 (permalink)
mlutz95 Hooked Up Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: dallas Best Catch: billfish slam Occupation: student (9th grade) Posts: 206	Best swordfish bait I am going down to islamorada soon and doin some swordfishing. I know squid is great, live and dead bait is good, but what is the absolute best bait?

11-24-2007, 03:59 PM	#2 (permalink)
RiskTaker Grander Join Date: May 2004 Location: Pompano Beach, Florida, USA Best Catch: Had one once, then she took the boat away Posts: 1,971	Live Mokahanalili fish is the absolute best bait for Swordfish ! MLutz: Live Mokahanalili fish is the absolute best bait for Swordfish, Pacific or Atlantic. Bridle them through the eye socket like any other good sized live baits when you are in motion over the water: wind driven or a very slow troll. If no motion through the water you could change over to a rear bridle or hook in flesh rig. These fish are extremely difficult to find in the Atlantic if at all, so you could also substitute live tinker mackeral as the next best thing, when they are available. (Winter months generally; otherwise match the prevailing bait fish found in stomach contents of your most recent catches.) Fresh looking/tasting dead squid should not be excluded from your mix. I suppose live squid are even better, but those are also difficult to obtain. Good luck: you will catch one as long as you are in the zone and try to fish around the time of the bite. Remember to report your fish and you could be even cooler if you do it on-line.

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