West Coast Angler needing assistance

[AWOL]

Hey guys. I just ran into this site a few days ago and I almost had a heart attack. This site is great. I'm a 25 year old captain/college student thats been fishing out of Los Angeles, Ca. all of my life for whatever big game decides to swim our way. Mainly large makos and the occasional striped marlin that hang around for a couple of months in the summer. I've hooked up on giant swords here on occasion while drift fishing at night for makos and I've never been able to land one. Please HELP!!!

The rigging section is very informative and has been a great help, but I have a lot of questions that have been pounding in my head that I prey you guys will help me with. What pound test line do you guys use and how many yards is adequate? Hollow core Spectra/dacron to mono connection? Straight mono? And what brand of rods do you guys use and what type of action and line rating is ideal? Bent butt or regular? I'm a Calstar guy and I like to wrap my own rods. What calstar rods would be equivalent to what you guys use and why? And what exactly is a tip rod?

I've been frustrating myself for years trying to figure out how to catch these guys. I'm finally throwing in the towl and asking for help. Any advice and information will be more than greatly appreciated.

[Mike]

AWOL,

At the moment I do not have the time to get very informative for you but I will lay out the most important aspects of swordfishing, no matter where you are:

(1) Drags: Swordfish have soft mouth, try not to go more than 12-15lb of drag when fighting the fish or you will pull the hooks most of the time.

(2) You want 80lb gear. Usually Sufix Titanium to a bimini twist then to 300lb leader (15 feet)

(3) You should have over 600 yards on the reel for those long deep divers.

(4) bent butts are nice for when fighting out of the rod holder or a chair.

(5) ummm...Do not set the hook.. just wind, wind and wind.

I'll get back to you with more details, but the other guys hear know the system well... Kind of unwritten rules.. but everyone does something different...

Welcome to the board!

[imported_Anonymous]

Thanks for the reply Mike. I've been going crazy for the last couple of years trying to get any info on how to catch these guys. Fishermen on this coast will not give up any info on how to catch anything other than sand bass, tuna, and mackeral. It's like pulling teeth. All info on swordies on this coast is protected like your daughters innocense. Any thing that you guys can give me will be treasured.

[Tim]

Mike pretty much covered it.. A tip rod is a rod that is fished straight off the boat, not using a balloon or jug. With the pressure of the weight the tip of the rod is always bent.. once you see the rod come up, that means a swordfish has picked up the bait and REEL REEL REEL.

Sometimes they pickup the baits and swim up to the boat to check it out.. espically if you have the Hydraglow out..

Just keep windin on these fish constantly at 12-15lbs of drag.. I always fish 12lbs on 100lb test or even 80lb test. IF I think a fish might spool me I will button it up as needed.

Tight Lines

[AWOL]

Thanks for the info Tim. So that's why they're called tip rods. Sorry, I'm just a little slow at learnen sometimes (:?). Thanks for the schoolin guys, I am learning a lot with any bit of info you throw at me. PLEEEASE keep it coming.

[CapnBob]

There have been a number of articles published in the saltwater fishing mags ove the last 2-3 years. Do a search on the web looking for "swordfishing articles". There's info on rigging, bait, etc. You may be suprised again!

[westcoastswrdfish]

AWOL, I am very curious what boats you fish on?

[AWOL]

Look at my profile and e-mail or call between 4-10pm tuesday-sunday.
310-560-1845
Steve