When the fish bite ?

[Randy]

Here's a crazy thing. I know everyone is always trying to figure why and when the Swords bite . Some think everything from moon , temperature , current speed, all kinds of things. I've been watching something different these last few weeks. West edge of the Gulfstream. Within the last few weeks reports of sword catches have been fluctuating up and down and i've been watching the stream . It has been from 19 to 7 miles East of Everglades at different times and it seems it coincides with the catch reports . Notice here on the forum the lack of catch reports now but an abundance a week or two ago ? West edge was at 17-19 miles and reports were sketchy then in to 7 miles and BUKU reports then back out again ... slow. Hmmm! Can this be ? Perhaps when the stream is 19 miles out it's not forming the eddies/currents/rips over the canyons/valleys creating nutrient rich areas which in turn brings the bait fish in and of course then the predators ? (Our table fare) Im just wondering as it is awfully curious that the fish catch reports (how many) seem to coincide with this . Anybody else notice this ? Hmmm .. I wonder . A few months ago the edge was at the whistle bouy and one night we had 6-8 bites but our last trip edge was at 17 miles (night of the falling space junk) we did TWO drifts totaling 30 miles and had exactly ONE bite. Anybody else notice this ? Coincidence ? Ps. Seas just went to 2 ft or less for tonight , anyone out there Teaser on 72 .

[swordstalker]

That sounds logical. Maybe some of the guys who have been swording longer can chime in. Where do you get your info. on where the stream is at any given time?

[RiskTaker]

Randy:

When the anglers bite, is right after the fish come off the grill, say about 7:30 - 9:00 p.m., insideshore I would say. Got beer?

Wow, you have taken the dust cover off the Keyboard. Yeah, your hypothesis is probably right on; however, many of us do not know the answer to this. Well, I certainly do not. Maybe some light can be shed on this subject; however, I would probably go right back to the same zone and soak my baits there anyway. I guess I do have some creature habits.

But I can say, that the current and temperature flows certainly may play a part, hence the bait fish may prefer to be here versus there, and so on.

When we had the fortunate pleasure to hear some comments from the
active long-line fishermen at the SESC meetings, I recall one captain, Capt. Ali, describing favorable water currents (temperature based and contrasting) to be real close in. And of course, he would not be surprised if the swordfish were right in close to shore (ie. 3-8 miles). Then again you must understand that he and other commercial fishermen likely have subscription services that the recreational angler does not have at their disposal, unless you are willing to pay the fees.

Perhaps some people do have this information at hand and are not sharing anything on line. I do not know. But I do know that many long term swordfishing anglers do not post on these forums. And that lack of information is probably keeping the suspense going.

For me, I would suspect that there are packets of fish migrating through from time to time plus a mixture of resident fish. And if we happen to co-incide with that, at the right time and place, the bite is Hot. Otherwise, we are fishing in the regular "known" preferred location with a massive column of water slowly drifting North at about 2.7-3.4 kts. It is nice to have your ears open and to listen to the anglers out on a given night and determine where they're getting most of the bites. Sometimes, that can be identified. Sometimes it is vague, hot or not. But if the bite was hot last night and you were not there, perhaps you should get going tonight rather than waiting a few days longer, if that is manageable.

I don't know the answers, just putting some ideas on the table. Now let's see, I did ping Capt. Mitch to find out when the bite would likely be last night and tonight. No answer back yet, as far as I can tell. So if you know where, you have your baits in the water, rigged in a decent matter, definitely soaking, when that prescribed time is. Wow, the fish should just start jumping into the boat; albeit with a little line connecting to its body somewhere.

Once you are good with the basic drill, the finer details will come bit by bit, so long as you keep digging. Don't cover that keyboard.

Randy - If you want to dig further there is a post and link here somewhere that connects to the approriate software and subscription service for satellite SST (sea surface temperatures). That could put the information in your hands: I still would not know how to best apply it though.

Swordstalker - Don't they announce that on NOAA weather on the VHF: "the western wall of the Gulfstream is situated xx nautical miles off of Port everglades and xx nutical miles off of Fowey Lighthouse?"

[Whitewater]

That is an interesting thought. Below is a free web site from Rutgers University where they down load the information off the govt satellites and process it like the paid subscriptions. It is not as finely detailed but could give some clues as to this theory.


http://marine.rutgers.edu/cool/sat_d...sst&nothumbs=0

[Litetackleredneck]

This time of year, NOAA gives it. My dad has paid much attention to this over the past 4 years. Hes noticed the same thing, same reasoning. But being bullheaded (and 18) I dont usually give him the credit. But your dead on.

[Randy]

http://www.ndbc.noaa.gov/data/Foreca...US52.KMFL.html
Here's the website I use for the West wall of the Gulfstream . I dont know much about it other then they tell it from the satellite ocean temperature change. I have noticed when there's bad weather they say information not available so i have a feeling they can only see the change if it's clear. Ive been watching it and the catch reports . You guys watch it and tell me if im seein things. Ps. Somebody give Rodchucker a ride tonight , He's a bud and my boat is full. Randy

[DOUBLEHOOK]

So Randy,

Accordingy to your theory, we should a chance a good fishing tonight sine the western edge of the Gulfstrem is 8 miles from Fowey, is that right? I'll be on 72, hopefully some invited guest will show up on time.

[Captain Joe McGivern]

i will be out tonight also...ch72! catch'em up guys!!!!!

i am open tommrow night if anyone wants to give it a shot. i'll be sure to type a report in the morning.

[Randy]

Not my theory guys, Just was wondering if anyone else noticed this "coincidence" . I will be out there TONIGHT . last trip a drift down the 49 and then down the 50.5-7 with west adge at 17 miles got ONE bite . Tonight im goin straight down the 50. Ill be monitoring 72. West edge Gulfstream at 8-9 miles at PEverglades. Lets see. Id appreciate anyone out tonight post how many hits. curious

[DOUBLEHOOK]

So we have Teaser, Night Prowler and myself (Doublehook) out tonight. Anyone else coming to the party? I'm leaving work in about an hour. Let us know.

[Conchy]

Conchy will be out there.. or try to get out there, 3pm report is 3-4's
now, and im in a 20. But to be safe ill have my water wings on and epirb
ducktaped to my forehead :cyclops: Good luck whoevers goin.
Conchy irat:

[quack quack]

Is that were the epirb goes #-o

here's my 2 cents,
swordfishing don't stop feeding for nights at a time, their growth
rates and the energetics of being in a strong current require an
average fish to eat like 6-9 lbs of stuff a day. when we're not
catching them, they are someplace else. maybe they do go further
offshore with the florida current; maybe they go in shallower
to the inner shelf in search of food?? maybe they are deeper
because a school of squid showed up at 600 ft depth.

i'm reviewing a paper right now that analyzes longline swordfish catch;
hook depth with bottom depth were the most important factors, SST was
not that important to swords (but very important to dolphin); more
on this in a few weeks. cheers, arthur

[Randy]

Arthur, let me know what the report indicates .. Thanks Randy

[Sword Hunter]

thats why west wind sux