How to start

[philr21]

Ok, I'm a Navy guy stationed at MacDill AFB near Tampa. I've got a year left in FL, and a 21' Center Console. What do you guys recommend as my best course of action to catch a sword? I want to catch one desperately, but a bit worried about taking my 21'er out in an area I'm not familiar with, or trailering it all the way down there to get blown out. Don't have much cash to try and get a guide.

What do you think? 21'er too balsy? I'm fairly familiar with rigging and have two 80W's and a 50W, have a hydraqlo and plenty of leader material. If I end up trying via my own boat, when is the best time of year? I've got plenty of big fish from my boat, put an 8' bull in it last week, but never made it to the other coast for swords.

Thanks for the help.

[RiskTaker]

Philr:

With a 21 ft. Center console you can easily catch a swordfish. As a matter of fact that is the perfect size boat for your budget. You need to plan your trip for when the seas are not churning up from the Northeasters. (added - anytime of the year is fair game to go swording but you would be wiser to go when the bite is reported as on. Sometimes you may only have a day or two window for that report. Also you may be more active and get bigger fish in the fall & winter months, but they're still out there when the water is warmer too.) I used to have a 20 ft. Grady White Cutty Cabin, that boat has been through 6-8 seas and has ventured to the Bahamas. I may not have liked it in rougher weather but I was never fearful of being in it. But Grady Whites have a seaworthy reputation: I'm not sure what your boat is?

Of course, big seas can be more hazardous for small vessels, just be a little more prudent and selective for the weather.

It seems to me that the only major motivation for you to get a bigger boat is to accomodate those 2 - 80 TWs.

There are two good things about 80s. 1 - is you can catch the last 5% of the remaining monster fish in the sea and 2- is you get a physical workout just by using them for fishing. I tried my friend's Penn TW80 last night for swordfishing. My opinion was that is was too much tackle in hand to control well. For those big sharks, I believe you are sitting pretty. For drift fishing, it was very cumbersome to handle well: it was awkward to adjust the drag, hold the rod and let line out. Just my opinion after I compared the 50 wides to the 80 wides.

Good luck on your next swordfishing adventure. If you ever need a fishing mate over here in Pompano/Ft. L area give me a shout. You may also post for a fishing buddy on this forum or the Florida Sportsman forum. I know the waters well enough to get you out of any inlet from Stiltsville(Miami) to Boca and have sufficient basic knowledge to get you on a minimum luke warm drift.

P.S. - Since you are predominantly drifting sideways in the groove of the wave lengths make sure you have forward rod holders to spread out your lines. On a 20 ft. I bet you could get 5 lines in the water is you were so motivated: two tips forward and aft, two balloons staggered apart and one on the downwind side pushed out with an outrigger.

RT