Natural or Artificial?

[The BEAST]

I have been toying with using artificials as bait rather than live/dead naturals. I still use at least a 50% mix with dead jumbo squid and artificial squid. It is becoming apparent that they are more of a visual feeder than by scent. But I have not rendered any final conclusions on this.

2 Nights ago I took Peter Wahl from Germany for a night Swordfish trip. Peter has been fishing all over the world even in some of the most remote billfish areas and is well known in the big game sportfish Circles as well as salt water magazine publications. He chose South Florida for his attempt to catch his first ever Swordfish. Filming this event was on his agenda as well.

The following is a brief synopsis of how the night went: We left the dock at 7 PM and made our way to the deep water. Since it was still somewhat daylight I stopped on an anchor ball to rig up 3 jumbo squid and prepare everything. As twilight descended we blasted out to my drift point. I immediately sent out an artificial squid on the 50' line and 3 rigged natural squid on the 150, 250, 350 depth lines. It was a crescent moon. Within 5 minutes of the drift we got an knock on the NATURAL squid on the 250' line. The fish came back in a minute or two and finished off the feed and we were "hooked up". In about 15 minutes, Peter maneuvered the fish to the boat. A small "pup" of about 25 lb. was all it was but his Swordfish none-the-less. We, of course, released this fish to grow and entertain again. That drift found us drifting a bit too shallow in my area so I set up the next drift on the deeper side. We made the second drift with no action at all. Looking at the track on the chartplotter we saw that the drift was caught in the stronger current of the gulfstream and pushed us out into the flat, non-structural portion of the sea bottom. We, pulled the lines and ran back to set up for another drift. This time the drift was perfect, current and winds keeping me on the structure and moving slowly along at about 1 1/2 mph. Approximately 1 hour into that drift we were thinking about calling it a night when I noticed the 50' depth, ARTIFICIAL bait, moving to the side. This is apparent by seeing the bottle/float moving and also the LED light rising and moving up current. The line was growing taut and Peter was prepared. We gave the fish a little drop back and came tight quickly. FISH ON!!!!!!!!!! This was no "pup". Clicker screaming as the line ripped off the reel I worked feverishly to retrieve and clear the other 3 lines. 300yds, 20 minutes, 45 minutes, 1 hour, the battle raged on. Peter was no novice as was apparent by his angling skills. The fish is 50' from the boat and surfacing. WOW! This fish leaves the water and we estimate it at 250 # as it reenters the sea with a resounding splash and takes off on another run. 1hr/15 min, 1hr/30min and the fish once again is within 100' of the boat and takes to the air again. Oh my God! The fish plunges back into the water and rips off again. 1hr/45min and the fish leaps again as we see the LED light flying through the air in the distance and hear the telltale splash of the water on reentry. 2 hours and the fish is now coming in under the guise of exhaustion. Peter got the fish to about 50' from the boat and thinking the battle was over we prepared to take this fish. This "Gladiator of the Sea" had another idea as it made a 300 yard run as if it were never in a 2 hour battle. After 2 hours and 5 minutes this terrific battle of man vs. beast comes to a conclusion when the hook pulls free. NO WAY! Yes way. This Swordfish tried it all, charging the boat, descending into the depths, taking to the air, forcing boat maneuvers, and testing Peter's expert sport fishing skills to the limits to deservedly regain his/her freedom. Peter remarked to me that this fish was stronger than the largest of the Marlins he has caught. Peter vows to return to South Florida for a rematch. A little dejected and somewhat disappointed, but Peter and I were truly satisfied that this mighty fish had won.

Natural or Artificial?

Capt. Jim
305-233-9996
beastcharters@aol.com
www.beastcharters.com

[quack quack]

Wish it ended better but a great fight on a great night I will be rigging up some more artificial baits.

[Andy]

This is very interesting. I'm thinking that I can keep the sharks away from my baits if I use artificials (a bit of a problem up in the Northeast canyons). What brand/style/color have you tried?

[The BEAST]

Andy,

I have tried the Boone Glo-Squids and the new Williamson Live Squid in brown and pink. So far the Williamson pink squid is the winner hands down. If the action is slow I put a small piece of cut bait squid on the hook as a tantalizer. Only one problem even with the artificial squids. I still get eaten up by sharks.

Capt. Jim
The BEAST

[Andy]

Thanks, keep us updated on your success ratio & colors/styles you try. I will be trying a Williamson Pink in my setup soon!

[Captain Ollie]

My vote goes for the fact that they are mainly visual hunters. A natural rigged squid washes out and turns that sickly white color quite quickly. I think that this is a big turn off to the fish. Personally I don't fish squid that haven't been dyed. That's probably why the artificial squid get hit like they do. Most people I know don't bother dying their baits. I assume its either because its a little messy, or they are afraid of staining the boat. Hopefully they don't change their ways.

[Broadbill]

Nice report! Thanks for the info on the artificials, sounds worth a try. Sorry about "the one that got away", sounds like it was a great fight regardless.

[JR.ANGLER 1]

Capt Jim-

I recently purchased some of the Williamson squids unrigged for this very purpose. How is your artificial squid rigged? The standard way with the hook out the back of the tentacles? I think if I could Bridle the hook to the top of the mantle it would produce a better hookup ratio... Any thoughts?

[The BEAST]

JR. ANGLER 1,

I rigged it with a standard Mustad 9/0 hook so it would lock into the locking head of the bait. Yes, it is positioned in the tentacle area of the bait. You can position the hooks wherever you like but my Philosophy is to keep everything as simple as possible. Works for me! Sometimes we tend to over-think and over-do things.

Capt. Jim
The BEAST

[sails_meeting]

Capt. Jim,

Have you caught very many swordfish on the artificail squid?
Are you fishing it on the shallow rod so it is illuminated by your hydroglow?

[The BEAST]

sails meeting,

Actually I have been fishing with the artificials about 3 or 4 times now. During my charters I have been using the naturals on the depth rods that are most likely to be hit and the artificials on the least likely. Doesn't sound like a good trial but I must produce fish for my clients so experimentation is limited. When I fish with my daughter and friends I do my research. One night not too long ago we used all artificial. On that night we caught a night shark and had one Sword strike but no hook up. The way it stands right now I fish 25% artificial but have a 50% bite rate. It is more than artificial over natural. It is also testing different artificials to decide which is the best. As soon as I am convinced that they are at the least as productive as the naturals I will continue to fish some naturals as well. Catch my drift (no pun intended)? Even when Dolphin fishing there are times when the naked ballyhoo will out produce the articial lure.

I fish my 50' line far away from the boat approx 150-200' away with the tip rod being the deepest. I do this because I have less fouling of lines on a hook up than the other way around. I personally believe the hydroglow helps but I tend to see more fish action in the darker waters away from the light. The big light is basically a bait fish attractor rather than illuminating my baits. It does draw the attention of the fish for some distance but the LED's job is to draw the immediate attention/strike of the fish.

I won't say that my way is the right way but simply the right way for me. Everybody has there own way like balloons over bottles, different weight drop systems, different depth zones and staggers. I don't fish in the Miami proper sea mound area that so many do because of the long run to get there. I fish south of there and am very happy with my success ratio.

We do whatever we have to do to produce fish. A good captain will always be thinking and trying to improve his methods. That's the name of the game, right?

Capt. Jim
The BEAST

[Broadbill-Pro]

Artificial bait would be a longliners dream come true, since squid costs can exceed $1000 per night. Extensive testing has been done in areas where live squid eat the bait upon the deployment of the gear. It is common to haul an entire set back without a single bait remaining and zero fish.

Frank Johnson Jr. (Moldcraft) worked for me back in the 80's. We tried several times to use artificial baits along with natural bait with little success. Years later Frank gave me a box of second quality artificial squids (mostly color imperfections) to bring to Hawaii since the North Pacific fishery was nearly shut down due to the abundance of natural live squid. Again the results were the same, although live squid will take bites of artificial squid, swords were not interested. A point of interest is that when leather cut outs were soaked in squid brine, swordfish responded. Not well enough to making a living, but far better than the visual effect of a perfect Moldcraft replica.

This is only my observation and results of many tests in areas where swords had as much live bait to eat as they wanted. It is difficult to make them eat something unnatural when baitfish are abundant. I do not believe that artificial bait will ever create results to equal natural bait in a drift fishery, but I certainly commend those who continue to experiment and look for better ways.

[The BEAST]

Broadbill-Pro,

That is exactly what I said. It seems to work for me but maybe not for you. If you take notice, any fishery from offshore to largemouth bass has difficulties trying to use an artificial if the present forage is in abundance.

I am almost convinced that the Williamson Live Squid (pink) is as productive as the naturals without all the mess and expense of rigging, dying, and buying the naturals. I will continue to try the Williamson (browm) and the Boone (glo) even though neither has produced so much as a tap, yet. MoldCraft also has a "pink-glo" squid but they haven't sent it to me to try yet.

As for longliners using articials, I will keep my opinions to a minumum on a public forum when it comes to that portion of the fishing industry.

Capt. Jim
The BEAST

[Broadbill-Pro]

Beast,

I am not interested in your opinions regarding longlining, you are correct to keep them to yourself. The subject is artificial bait.

Artificial squid has come a long way since the trials I did years ago, todays lures may be superior to those I used. Swords will eat anything given the right circumstances, I pulled a DC voltage meter from the gut of a fish on the Grand Banks. I am sure that with the right combination and effort you will produce positive results.

[sails_meeting]

Capt. Jim,

Thanks for the insight. We fish the way down south grounds as well. We usually start a little south of Pacific. We have about 15 trips under our belt with fairly good results.

I'm interested in the artificial squid, because our results on natural squid are marginal at best. Almost all of our squid hits occur while setting out or retreiving the bait. I have not tried dying the squid, so that is next on the list if the artificials don't produce.

I eat breakfast in your sub shop a couple times a month. I'll be sure to say high if I see you there.

[The BEAST]

sails meeting,

OMG! Don't let my wife hear you call HER Deli, my sub shop. She claims the Deli as her own. I just helped her get it started but have had little to do with it in the last 2 years. I am strictly charter fishing and that is how I like it .

I fish the same grounds starting around Pacific Reef to Triumph Reef. I wish the run was shorter to the whoopdies up off Miami but I have very good success in my area.

I used to fish live Goggle Eyes but found the success rate on the dead squid just as good in our area. I don't dye my squid.

The pink Williamson squid is getting the nod from me in the artificials. I sometimes add a small piece of squid to the hook for scent only.

Capt. Jim
The BEAST

[Relentless33]

I think next time we go out we will probably have that pink artificial on board.

After it gets wacked at and catches a fish is it ruined or is it like a lure that is normally fine ??

Not many other fish have swords on their face though, so it may be a little different.......?


:???:

[The BEAST]

Relentless33,

I am still using one out of the original pack of 4 that has caught a night shark and also went through the posted 2 hr 5 min fight and one other knock. Just a few of the tentacles missing from the shark. They should have good longevity by all indications.

Capt. Jim
The BEAST

[Relentless33]

Thanks Jim, what do they run for a pack ??

[The BEAST]

Dang, you guys have me all fired up wanting to get out there after them again. I am doing too many 1/2 day trips (ugh) and fishing Dolphin tournaments with The Beastie Girls. Hopefully I can get a Snooter fix next week.

Capt. Jim
The BEAST

[Relentless33]

I think they would really be worth it, my biggest concern was how long do they last, If you have to replace the lure everytime it gets wacked or played with then the money is just flowing out the door.

I think we should have very good luck with them, every night we've been out we've had atleast a runoff, maybe the lures would just increase the hookup ration :lol:

[quack quack]

R33 how are you rigging your squid?

[The BEAST]

Relentless33,

Not sure! My buddy, a West Marine manager caught wind of this a while ago but had trouble getting them in the store. He bought them and gave me a pack of the brown and the pink to try. He told me he can hardly keep the pink in stock down there now. I believe they are @ $12-15 for the unrigged 4 packs. The eyes come out of the body as a plastic piece which when rigged is designed to lock your hook in 1 of 4 positions. Only problem is that the slot is not big enough to use my Jobu hooks. I had a box of the standard 3407 Mustad 9/0 which fit in the slot. I haven't tried any others yet.

Capt. Jim
The BEAST

[Relentless33]

Hmmm......... Sounds a little odd with locking positions, im sure its easier once I see it

[Relentless33]

QQ: We rig the squid by slading the end of the leader through the top of the squid and bring the hook to about the middle. We then stitch it up and it looks gorgeous, lol, its hard to explain. Next time we rig them I'll take a picture for you.

I think we have the rigging part fully down, the bait can not slide down because its stitched up.
It makes a pretty beautiful rig.
:???:

[quack quack]

Try putting the hook at the top of the mantel.

[Relentless33]

We puncture the mantel 'top part' in about the middle with the hook, I think a picture will help, but I cant take one of a frozen one in a vaccum bag
I'll check though

[Relentless33]

Nevermind, there are none frozen that are rigged.

All there is is a 2 boxes of chum and sardines, a bunch of ballyhoo, squid, and a PLETHORA (a lot) :lol: of bonito strips

QQ: The little definiton of plethora was put in there just for you :lol:

I had to say it like that my apology

[Relentless33]

WAIT !!!!

Does this mean that "Its on " again ??

Dont pout and be mad, get glad

[quack quack]

:razz: :lol: