How to Swordfish??

[jdmcrave]

hey guys, iam new to the site and iam lost when it comes to swordfishing..I usually fish for dolphine but Iam ready for big game fishing now. If anyone here can tell me the hows, where, type of bait for these guys and how deep they usually are in. Iam located in Miami just incase...are there specific spots.... I have a basic idea from reading the sword fish forums for the pass 2 hours like glow sticks and or a light is needed...but Iam not sure exactly how deep..where..type of bait or how to fish for them, drif fishing?? do I just let the line go down and hope for a bite?? what time is best???..idk... thank you all for your help...hopfully if I get everything I need by next week ill finally go out and fish for one of these creatures by the following week...thanx

[miamiangler1]

Originally Posted by jdmcrave

hey guys, iam new to the site and iam lost when it comes to swordfishing..I usually fish for dolphine but Iam ready for big game fishing now. If anyone here can tell me the hows, where, type of bait for these guys and how deep they usually are in. Iam located in Miami just incase...are there specific spots.... I have a basic idea from reading the sword fish forums for the pass 2 hours like glow sticks and or a light is needed...but Iam not sure exactly how deep..where..type of bait or how to fish for them, drif fishing?? do I just let the line go down and hope for a bite?? what time is best???..idk... thank you all for your help...hopfully if I get everything I need by next week ill finally go out and fish for one of these creatures by the following week...thanx

I am new at this also ... I have been reading all the info here ... you can learn alot ... #1 get a sword chart .. you can get it at Dusky Marine in Davie or Captain Harry`s in downtown .. Miami .. it is put out by HomePort Charts.. in Miami it would be #35 I have been using it for deep droppping and has helped me ... #2 there is a DVD or Vidio on swordfishing .. by Bouncer ... that would be the quickest way to get the info you need ... I`m sure there are many guy`s that can tell you alot , but everyone has their own way of doing things ... you just have to find one that will work for you ... as for when is a good time ... I would say anytime after it gets dark ... you would have to be setup out there before it gets dark ... as for how far out .. well most guy`s set up on the 50 line which would be about 17 miles offshore .. but some go out a little futher .... as for the best bait it would have to be a rigged squid ...and I would set up one near the surface down to 50ft , another rod set at 150-200ft , 3rd rod set down to 300ft ... but if you are beginning , like me I would start with two rods ... and just experiment and see what happens ... well this is my 2 cents ... and I`m sure some of these great guy`s on this fourm have better advise and more info to give to you ... good luck and hope you get your swordie ... P.S make sure you have your HMS permit !

[JupiterSailfish]

Originally Posted by jdmcrave

do I just let the line go down and hope for a bite??

Yes you do. Respect

Squid is only what I use. Water depth can be from 400ft to 2000+ft. Try to be setup before dark because then is a really good bite. Say your fishing a four rod spread. On the jug rods say you put your baits down at 100ft and 200ft. Then put your tip rods(rods without jugs that stay close to the boat) at 150ft and 250ft or any different depth so you can cover the area. Glow sticks, LP or Seamaster electric lights, gloves, harness and belt, harpoon, rubberbands, weights from 16oz-32oz, squids, and chart are some of the things off my head. Ofcourse there is way more too it.

Some of the experts (in my eye's you guys are ) will help you out. Good Luck. I suggest not to get into it because it will pretty much take over your life.

[jdmcrave]

ok perfect...ive been reading alot recently and about Capt. bouncer and what he does...iam going to try and get the 60 min video on how to swordfish...but before I do...ok some questions...

when I rig up the squid ...do i have to put a weight on it so it can sink or do i just let it free fall to the desire depth I want it??

is it pretty much drop the lines and driff or is it trolling??? iam a dolphine fisher and thats what iam use to so forgive me if its a dumb questions

in a nut shell... its basically rig squid , iam asssuming a 4 ft wire leader connected to it so the fish won't snap the line, and right on the leader I connect a glow stick or one of those neat strobe lights and rig it to the rod and hope for the best or do I rid the glow stick closer to the bait??... I mean of course each rod will be set at different depths but basically each rod should have that kind of set up??

Ohh one more thing... I was reading on the new light Hydro light... seems like it works.. but what exactly does it do..its not ment to go down deep right?? its just ment so it can float above the service and light up the suroundings?? I was thinking of making my own and putting a green light guard around the light so it can light up green..It should work the same..

once I get to the desire depth and let the lines out and if I have to driff, would I have to driff heading back to shore or driff heading more out??

sorry for all the questions but I want to go in this knowing what to do and being able to catch something, iam currently located in Orlando because of some schooling I have to do here for work but my boats in miami...but my friend here has a boat and were planning on going out to the east coast sometime in 2-3 weeks and fish for sword..just wondering if anything changes since iam fishing more up north..as in do I have to go out deeper or not as deep as apose if I were to fish in miami??

[Uncle Buck]

Ask one question, and you'll get 100 different answers... and all of them may be correct!

Best way to learn is to find a crew that'll take you out. Watch and learn. And like most of my friends, we like strapping virgins into their first swordfish.

Don't assume anything. General rule of thumb: Everything is Bigger. Tackle, gear, weights, hooks, expense, etc... Swordfishing is a lot different than messing with mahi. More like giant catfish with a pointy nose. Ya don't need wire unless you plan to tangle with Mr. Mako.

[catching]

Post up something when you guys are ready to get out there; there are plenty of guys including myself that would be more than willing to show you the do's and do nots of Swording on your boat.

Look up Nightfighter on the forum, he is a guide that fishes your boat.

Good Luck
Dan

[GENERALturtle.]

Best Bet! Invite one of the many swordfishermen from your area to ride out with you and show you the ropes. By the time you get home you will have all the basic stuff down!

[Uncle Buck]

...and don't spend a dime until you know what you're getting into. That's why it's a good idea to hitch a ride and "donate" to the trip the first couple of times. Swordfishing is not everyone's cup-o-tea.

[jdmcrave]

10-4 guys..thanx...ill see in 2 weeks ill go just to try it out..nothing crazy..I dont expect to get anything but kindda get the feel...and then Ill try to catch a ride with someone and go for the real thing..thanx again though..but iam not done reading all these swordfish information on here..thanx again.

[njoimia]

http://www.swordfishingcentral.com/s...g-florida.html

[miamiangler1]

Hi, Jdmcrave , got my first sword last night .. thanks to Capt`n Shane who was nice to let me go with Him ... and got to see first hand how it is done ... I would very much advise you to have someone who is experianced to show you how it is done ... you cannot believe the power of these fish ..plus all the proper equipment you need ... a wild fish can be very dangerous .