Whats with the North Florida bite???

tabasco · 01-05-2009, 04:22 PM

We went out sat nite, left St. Augustine and Hit the bottom spot on the way out and got 3 big red snappers/muttons/triggers. Figured it would be a good nite. There were 4 boats out and we all lined up from 1000ft to 1800 foot all spread apart and drifting. It was FLAT calm and one boat released a small pup, that was it!!?? We drifted all night, relocated from 1400 to 1700 to 1300, not a single strike/slashed bait/shark. Sent down a flying fish, squid, nothing. Hit the bottom again in the AM for more triggers/snapper/and one big african pompano but the swording was dead. We're on a roll of nothing on last several trips and it seems the North Florida bite is way off??? Any ideas??

ameristrat · 01-05-2009, 09:10 PM

I wasn't aware that there was a great bite up there. What are you doing?

Jagsare1 · 01-06-2009, 09:02 PM

Swordfishing in NE Florida has dramatically declined in the last few years.

02/03 - 98 releases and 12 killed
03/04 - 23 releases and 8 killed
04/05 - 17 releases and 4 killed
06 - 17 releases and 4 killed
07 - 28 releases and 12 killed
08 - 8 releases and 1 killed

These stats are our fishing club based in St. Augustine. Figure that these numbers are based on only 10 boats or less that are actually swordfishing. It is hard to tell how much of this is due to the rising cost of fuel. Between 2000 and 2003, it was common to have 8-10 strikes and catch multiple fish and then they disappeared. We used to catch alot of pups, I mean 25-35 lb fish.

I believe that the decline in numbers is due to multiple factors such as rising fuel costs and the simple fact that fewer people are doing it. But the decline in catches is hard to ignore. Sure would like to figure out what is going on.

I caught that fish this past weekend. It was probably 35 lbs.

tabasco · 01-08-2009, 07:39 PM

thanks tim,
I knew the #'s were down, but didn't realize THAT much. Guess there's not many of us up here going for them so we'll just have to figure this out ourselves. Or start dragging that cape horn of yours to south florida to get swords!!!!!!
tom

iriesoul · 01-08-2009, 10:28 PM

wow...you guys have to run far too... Sounds like a long night

Jagsare1 · 01-15-2009, 11:27 PM

That long run is the other issue. Unlike the guys down south who can pop out at 6 PM, catch a sword and be in bed by 10 PM...we are running 60-85 miles 1 way. Right now, I would venture to say there are only 5 boats doing any swordfishing at all off of Jacksonville/St. Augustine right now with any regularity.

Tom, I will drag that boat south any time you are ready to go. Just say the word!

Unreel · 01-16-2009, 12:33 AM

cayman we can run 3 miles and be deep enough lol

Boboe · 01-16-2009, 02:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Unreel

cayman we can run 3 miles and be deep enough lol

Somebody free-gaffed a 500# (if I remember correctly) sword in the harbor in Grand Cayman about 5 years ago. Estimated depth: 3 fathoms

01-05-2009, 04:22 PM	#1 (permalink)
tabasco Lines In Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Jax, Florida Boat: Henriques 35 Posts: 59	Whats with the North Florida bite??? We went out sat nite, left St. Augustine and Hit the bottom spot on the way out and got 3 big red snappers/muttons/triggers. Figured it would be a good nite. There were 4 boats out and we all lined up from 1000ft to 1800 foot all spread apart and drifting. It was FLAT calm and one boat released a small pup, that was it!!?? We drifted all night, relocated from 1400 to 1700 to 1300, not a single strike/slashed bait/shark. Sent down a flying fish, squid, nothing. Hit the bottom again in the AM for more triggers/snapper/and one big african pompano but the swording was dead. We're on a roll of nothing on last several trips and it seems the North Florida bite is way off??? Any ideas??

01-05-2009, 09:10 PM	#2 (permalink)
ameristrat Hooked Up Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Delray Beach Boat: Grady White Sailfish 28 Best Catch: 1 pound Goggle Eye Occupation: A Student at Wake Forest University Posts: 902	I wasn't aware that there was a great bite up there. What are you doing? __________________ "I've gotta live life real good because when it's over and I'm dead, I'm screwed. God is gonna kick my ass."

01-08-2009, 07:39 PM	#4 (permalink)
tabasco Lines In Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Jax, Florida Boat: Henriques 35 Posts: 59	wow thanks tim, I knew the #'s were down, but didn't realize THAT much. Guess there's not many of us up here going for them so we'll just have to figure this out ourselves. Or start dragging that cape horn of yours to south florida to get swords!!!!!! tom

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01-06-2009, 09:02 PM	#3 (permalink)
Jagsare1 Lines In Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 46	Swordfishing in NE Florida has dramatically declined in the last few years. 02/03 - 98 releases and 12 killed 03/04 - 23 releases and 8 killed 04/05 - 17 releases and 4 killed 06 - 17 releases and 4 killed 07 - 28 releases and 12 killed 08 - 8 releases and 1 killed These stats are our fishing club based in St. Augustine. Figure that these numbers are based on only 10 boats or less that are actually swordfishing. It is hard to tell how much of this is due to the rising cost of fuel. Between 2000 and 2003, it was common to have 8-10 strikes and catch multiple fish and then they disappeared. We used to catch alot of pups, I mean 25-35 lb fish. I believe that the decline in numbers is due to multiple factors such as rising fuel costs and the simple fact that fewer people are doing it. But the decline in catches is hard to ignore. Sure would like to figure out what is going on. I caught that fish this past weekend. It was probably 35 lbs.

01-08-2009, 10:28 PM	#5 (permalink)
iriesoul Hooked Up Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Jupiter Occupation: Master baiter Posts: 700	wow...you guys have to run far too... Sounds like a long night

01-15-2009, 11:27 PM	#6 (permalink)
Jagsare1 Lines In Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 46	That long run is the other issue. Unlike the guys down south who can pop out at 6 PM, catch a sword and be in bed by 10 PM...we are running 60-85 miles 1 way. Right now, I would venture to say there are only 5 boats doing any swordfishing at all off of Jacksonville/St. Augustine right now with any regularity. Tom, I will drag that boat south any time you are ready to go. Just say the word!

01-16-2009, 12:33 AM	#7 (permalink)
Unreel Hooked Up Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: cayman islands Boat: Unreel grady white 18 feet(now broken) So any boat I can find my way on!!! Best Catch: Every trip theres a new "special fish" So all of them ! Occupation: Party/fisherman till i join the CG in augest. Posts: 162	cayman we can run 3 miles and be deep enough lol

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