swordfishing what do you think

[quack quack]

Ok we all know opinions are like a--holes every one has one and they usually stink :shock: So by this I am asking for some serious smells :lol: I am sure everyone has an opinion they have been wanting to share.Maybe you just forgot what it is :???:

OK I will start

I think we need to start tagging all the swordfish we release.Have I tagged any no but I am planning on starting.I think if we do it will help us to see if their is a resident population of swords out there.

I think we should only be using single hook rigs on swords.

I think squids catch far more swords than live bait

I think the Dolphins will go to the super bowl :shock:

I think within a few years the long liners will be back in the straits :shock: I do not want this but I think it is going to happen.


I think the state should start a sword stamp program.Like $10 per year with all the money going to keeping the straits closed to LLers and research of the swords and economic impact on local economies.

OK your turns debates are welcome.

[Uncle Buck]

The only way the Dolphins will get to the SuperBowl is if the venders start serving Mahi Mahi sandwiches.

But that tagging proceedure is a very good idea. Sattelite tags are the way to go for real good info, but us everyday sportsman will have to settle for spaghetti tags. Can someone post info about how/where to get tagging kits? Phone number, website, etc...

Someone help Quackers... he's bored today.

[Nightfighter]

I want to see an offical Florida Swordfish licence plate.
I'd get one.

I also like the new pics of the fishing chicks above, the other ones were gettin old. Not that I didn't like them, I just like seeing more chicks in bikinis with fish. irat:

[quack quack]

That would be cool NF.I think it could be done.

[Broadbill]

You can order tags from www.billfish.org

There is plenty of info. on the site. By the way Sat. Tags cost around $4000 each. I think I'll stick with the regulars. It would be pretty cool if all of us could raise the coin to buy a few Sat. tags and donate the research. It would obviously benefit us as well. Any ideas???

[quack quack]

Broadbill:I want to start a semi annual contest with donated prizes and all money raised to go to helping the swords.Sat tags was one of the uses I thought about.

[Broadbill]

Sounds good. PM me when you get started if you need some help. I think it would be a great idea, and something we could all contribute to.

[hannaman]

I don't know about the stamp but a mandantory tag stick for everyone who has a sword permit sounds good.
I thing More Swords are caught on squids because everyone uses them but I think at least 1/3 or more are actually hitting live baits maybe 50/50. I know probably 2/3 rds or more of my bigger landed fish have been on live bait. YeeeeHawww

The one in my Avatar ate a 3 pound Blue runner

[Rod Chucker]

im a Dolphin fan. i was 7 in 1972 when they went undefeated, i remember it well. still the ONLY team to ever pull that off. Im sure the team will be in the bowl again, but THIS year? i dunno. maybe if Ricky can stay off the loco weed for a year! :high

i'd love to see more sword conservation/research efforts and would be glad to participate in anything you guys come up with.

ive used nothing but squid to this point. they seem to work well enough. when the bite is on we usually get out share of hits on squid. but it think its interesting what hannaman said about the bigger girls hitting livies. we havent caught anything over 170lbs so far on squid.

has anyone ever caught a sword with a tag in it?

[Disco Lady]

CONO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! yes more chicks and stick :lol: :lol: s

[RiskTaker]

Originally Posted by quack quack

Ok we all know opinions are like a--holes every one has one and they usually stink :shock: So by this I am asking for some serious smells :lol: I am sure everyone has an opinion they have been wanting to share.Maybe you just forgot what it is :???:

OK I will start

I think we need to start tagging all the swordfish we release.Have I tagged any no but I am planning on starting.I think if we do it will help us to see if their is a resident population of swords out there.
RT - I think that is a good idea too, providing we can do it to the fish that are not too small and we are trained to do it properly.

I think we should only be using single hook rigs on swords.
RT - I think we should not be meddling with this option. IGFA has a policy on this and if an angler wants to hook himself with the second hook, don't stand in his/her way.

I think squids catch far more swords than live bait
RT - Do you mean that you can actually catch Swordfish with dead squids? I thought the only way that these things could be caught, is with live baits or by harpooning free swimmers. :lol:

I think the Dolphins will go to the super bowl :shock:
RT - What's wrong with keeping them in our pond?

I think within a few years the long liners will be back in the straits :shock: I do not want this but I think it is going to happen.
RT - I think we should remain vigilent to keep the long-line activities out of this area: we already know that this technique will seriously deplete the population of swordfish, plus many other species and kill juvenile swordfish. We should focus to allow some methods for commercial fishing within the straits but it would be very nice if it could be well managed as a recreational and charter boat "tourism" based resource. If you happened to catch Dr. Barbara Block's presentation "Swimming with Giants" at UM a few weeks back, they have even brainchilded the idea, of a dynamic closure zone(s). This could be varied by time, location and expanse - in particular for the Tunas. This concept could work for swordfish too, if properly acceptable. ie. if the Straights open up to commercial fishing it is because another zone has been closed down. I still don't want a Long Line in my back yard.

I think the state should start a sword stamp program.Like $10 per year with all the money going to keeping the straits closed to LLers and research of the swords and economic impact on local economies.
RT - I don't think that the State "of Florida" should charge any fees related to swordfishing. Most of the swordfish are landed in the Federal Zone and there is already a Federal fisheries Permit requirement for that. And it is managed by a Federal entity. Why get two forms of Governement going on one issue. It is hard enough to manage with just one agency's involvement. A Florida Saltwater fishing license should cover it all: I even have issues with Snook, Crawfish, Duck and any other specialty item. There was a time when you did not need a license to fish in the ocean.

OK your turns debates are welcome.

BTW - The SESC is already collecting money for a Satellite Tag(s). If you do not have sufficient funds to deploy one as single endeavour, you could pool the funds.

[quack quack]

Broadbill check your pm

[Broadbill-Pro]

QQ are you trying to get me to bite with this thread? :twisted:

[swordfish123]

This idea is probably going to get shot down fast, but hey its worth a try...

What if we got Aftco or the Billfish Foundation to sell us some wholesale tagsticks and sell them on SFC. I could custom wrap them with the SFC logo and the boat name and we could make it a package deal with the Billfish Foundation tag kit, and sell them at no extra charge- but with about a $5-10 donation built into the kit, and we could also make up some specific instructions on tagging Swordfish. This would make it easy for the average guy who doesnt have a stick and doesnt want to put it all together.

We could advertise that all proceeds would go directly back to the Billfish Foundation or any other organization directed at saving our Florida Swordfish. I mean, like 15000 people look at this site every day, its worth a shot. I dont think many people are tagging swords

What im getting at is some incentive for people to buy a tagstick a tag the swords--basically, why pay a store the extra $ that goes in the store owner's pocket when you can get a nicer stick with the money going to a cuase...

Originally Posted by Broadbill

You can order tags from www.billfish.org

There is plenty of info. on the site. By the way Sat. Tags cost around $4000 each. I think I'll stick with the regulars. It would be pretty cool if all of us could raise the coin to buy a few Sat. tags and donate the research. It would obviously benefit us as well. Any ideas???

The S.A.I.L. club has raised $$ to buy 3 tags and will start tagging
swords this spring with Eric Prince's group. We can use more $$ for
more tags. Unfortunately, the SESC no longer has this as a priority
item, and one of their members got up at a meeting and made a number
of inaccurate statements about the benefits of satellite tags. cheers, arthur

[JR.ANGLER 1]

I would be all for the tagging program, anything that could help the conservation of our fishery. I also would be for the stamp program for the same reasons...

I also think that the LJFL minimum should be raised from 47'... but that is just my opinion.

[JR.ANGLER 1]

Originally Posted by swordfish123

This idea is probably going to get shot down fast, but hey its worth a try...

What if we got Aftco or the Billfish Foundation to sell us some wholesale tagsticks and sell them on SFC. I could custom wrap them with the SFC logo and the boat name and we could make it a package deal with the Billfish Foundation tag kit, and sell them at no extra charge- but with about a $5-10 donation built into the kit, and we could also make up some specific instructions on tagging Swordfish. This would make it easy for the average guy who doesnt have a stick and doesnt want to put it all together.

We could advertise that all proceeds would go directly back to the Billfish Foundation or any other organization directed at saving our Florida Swordfish. I mean, like 15000 people look at this site every day, its worth a shot. I dont think many people are tagging swords

What im getting at is some incentive for people to buy a tagstick a tag the swords--basically, why pay a store the extra $ that goes in the store owner's pocket when you can get a nicer stick with the money going to a cuase...

I love the idea! Can we get this moving?

[quack quack]

I will be talking to the Billfish foundation shortly about this.

Prof O look at my idea for a sword contest that runs over a six month span with all money going to research of some kind for this fishery.I got the green light from nmfs and they are excited about this.I will be in contact with there science dept to set up a data collection format for this send me a pm when you can so we can talk.

[swordfish123]

Originally Posted by "JR.ANGLER 1

I love the idea! Can we get this moving?

Thanks. I'm sure we can with a little help from aftco and some other forum members we could get the ball rolling and at least try to sell a couple of them. if it crashes, big deal. I think its worth a shot. What do you think Quack?

The Billfish Founation has a TON of conservation sponsors and partners. I see NO reason why SFC should not head up the Swordfishing aspect.

--Im on my way to go turkey hunting in arkansas for the weekend ....so if anyone has any ideas post them here, i'll be back sunday.

[RiskTaker]

Arthur:

If S.A.I.L. club can do 3 tags, it only seems reasonable that a club closely aligned to swordfishing should be able to have similar success. If those tags are several thousand each, you must have generated more than $10k. Very impressive. =D>

Yes, it seems that you may be correct about the lack of current activity within the SESC for Tag money. It seems like the time may be right to bring up the subject, for a kick start.

Perhaps it can be suggested to take a portion of the raffle money and plug it into the Tag fund (If it can generate a $100 per meeting, that is better than nothing.) Among other methods too.

My wife works at a Credit Union and they always participate in the March of Dimes (Walk-a-thon) She generates money for that cause by signing up sponsors for this activity.......

What would be a good theme to unite many people to be willing to sponsor for a swordfish Sat. tag? Swordfishermen may be motivated but what would work for the public at large? Any suggestions?