The Jurassic Drift, July 28th - "The Hunt for Big Nasty"

[The Jurassic Drift]

“The Legend of Big Nasty” by Untouchable

It started out as another night on the 50 line… and ended as anything but. The sun had just set and we began to put out the lines, taking in the usual sights of boats dotting the water like a Sunday afternoon at Lake Boca. But it was a different game out here. The crew consisted of me and a crony whom I called the “Captain.” Born of sal****er and southeast breezes, the Captain was the quintessential South Florida fisherman. Though his travels took him fishing all over the globe, his heart and soul lay off the South Florida coast. The banalities of work and pursuing a career were simply a means to bide time between cold fronts and tropical waves, the likes of which kept him shore bound. This was the Captain- nothing more, nothing less. When the Captain went fishing, he did so armed to the hilt. Our rod holders were not holding barbeque grills and water guns tonight, they were each wielding 130-lb class reels ready to battle with anything that came their way. We were in a different area on this eve, quite north of the familiar swording grounds…
“I’m not fishing in the nursery anymore. We are here for Big Nasty,” muttered the Captain in a steadfast tone.
“Who is Big Nasty?” I innocently asked, noting that none of his past “flames” were on the boat.
“Dude, I can’t explain, you’ll just have to see for yourself.”
And so we settled in for the drift, amid banterings of secret baits and new sword lights. I took in the life in the ocean, noticing the myriad sea creatures swarming around the floating light. The ocean was alive. Sailfish, dolphin, squid, shrimp- all smaller than my pinky finger. Since it was the only game in town I continued to watch, pondering the future of these little creatures.
“Dude, check the 150, make sure my squiddie’s money.”
I reeled up the bait. “Your squid is fine.”
“Of course it is. I am the man.”
I rolled my eyes, put the bait back down, and settled back into watching the sea life.
Swordfishing is like nothing else. Hours and many trips may go by without even a bite. The rocking of the boat and the endless staring into a literal abyss does things to one’s mind. It starts to wander. It starts to think strange thoughts and see things that might not actually be there. Then again, it all might just be a dream. Out there, in the “zone”, time stands still and it is difficult to discern truth from illusion.
I could only watch a passing flying fish for so long, and soon I was fading to black. I forgot where I was. Was I asleep? If I wasn’t, it was imminent. As my eyelids made that fateful motion, I saw it.
A piscine apparition, one that dwarfed anything I had ever even imagined before. White as snow, it entered and faded in the periphery as quickly as it came. I kept it to myself to prevent ridicule and more stories. Once more I nodded off and once more it caught my eye. This time was different.
“Was that…”
“What?”
“I might be crazy, but I think I saw something. It looked like an underwater ghost and it was about 9 feet long.”
“ Probably just a dolphin”
“It had one of our lights following it.”
“Sh!t, the 150 is slack. Reel!”

I proceeded to reel the low-geared 130 till the line came tight. It was heading away from all our other lines and right along the surface. Something was definitely going on.
“Yoke him!”
I wound the line furiously and awoke the spirit. She responded by clearing the water with our light dangling behind. She was every bit of 9 feet long and made sure we knew it. As soon as the fish hit the water, she stripped the reel, in one run, to within sight of the gold at the bottom of the spool. I had never imagined something so heinous, but here it was staring me in the face. One of mankind’s greatest achievements in angling was quickly approaching futility- and this was just the first run.
The drag was pushed up to near 30 pounds. She made it seem like 30 ounces as line continued to peel off the spool even as we pursued at near 10 knots. It was the perfect time for a timeless quote.
“We’re gonna need a bigger boat.”
Almost as if she heard us, the fish stopped. The line again went slack and I again wound till I had severe lactic acidosis in my arms and back. When I came tight the fish was now straight below, and we were now in over 1200 feet of water. Just then I felt an unfamiliar jolting of the line.
“See that. The fish is digging its bill into the sea bed to shake the hook,” Captain said as if he had a camera down there. Now I was dealing with a monstrosity of a fish that also had an IQ. It was not looking good. The fish was unsuccessful in dislodging the hook and continued to swim just off the bottom in a northeast direction. We had no choice but to continue following along like groupies. After two hours of being walked, we had managed to put 200 yards of line back on the reel. Some would call this progress, but with a swordfish it just means the fish wanted to come up a little bit and could easily go back down at any time.
“I think it’s gonna run again. She’s just following a thermocline. Get a second rod ready to clip.”
I knew what he was talking about, but had to ask him if he really wanted to drop a $1500.00 rod and reel overboard for a fish.
“Dude, it’s happening, don’t ask me again.”
As if on cue, the fish peeled line off with just 50 yards remaining on that huge gold spool. We put the drag on full, clipped the second rod to it, and over she went. Just in time, for we continued to lose line off reel number two. At this point I was just going with these motions. Clipping, tying, tossing, I could not appreciate the magnitude of what was going on. I also realized that I was just a pawn in this game. I was a mere foot soldier while the Captain read every move his adversary made, intent on claiming victory at all costs. Literally, in this case.

The next few hours were a blur. It was a steady pull and give while the fish continued to head farther offshore. We were now near 25 miles offshore and daylight was hours away. All our mental and physical efforts began to make some headway on the fish. We were able to retrieve our first outfit and resumed the fight from the soaked reel. I drew from every ounce of energy in every ounce of my body and kept reeling. Inch by inch, foot by foot, this denizen was starting to come to the surface. Somewhere in my delirium I mentioned that we hooked a submarine which was now making a routine surfacing. It was not well received.
It was now 7AM, the horizon was now abuzz with weekend warriors armed with ballyhoo, who dreamed of that dolphin dinner. We were now nearing the 9 hour mark on this fish and it was showing no signs of waving the white flag any time soon. But we continued to fight the good fight and continued to put line on the reel. If we kept up this pace, my apparition would soon come to view. It gave me new strength and I kept reeling.
One hour later we only had 200 yards left to put on the reel. 45 minutes later it was 50 yards and the fish came into view.
To say we were at a loss of words was an understatement. The fish was every bit of 110 inches, if not more, and was hooked solidly in the corner of the mouth. The Captain was trying to hold himself together, but I might have seen a small puddle at his feet.
“Just ‘cause she’s up doesn’t mean she’s done. This fish is not going to gas out and float to the surface like the groupers and mutton you are used to.”
I wish it did, for my life would have been much easier. At this point we were all screaming in a fish-and- sleep-deprivation induced delirium. The massive beast was only 20 feet down and easily the largest fish I had ever seen.
The Captain took to the bow; harpoon in hand, all the while his legs trembling. The fish was now on the surface. The Captain took aim and heaved the harpoon. Like a movie, the seconds that followed seemed like hours. The fish, as if it had called the Captain’s move, charged and the harpoon struck the skull of the fish and bounced off like a toothpick. Before he could recoil, the fish, now enraged, managed to wrap the leader around its bill. Like nearly 10 hours before, she took off for the horizon and this time parted the leader cleanly. She was gone. As the line broke we collapsed, as if our life force was gone. For 30 minutes no one said a word. The Captain put a shirt over his head and lay limp on the floor. We were 35 miles from home, and it was almost 9 AM. 10 hours and 20 miles later, all we had to show for ourselves were a salty 130 and two broken hearts.
This fish’s will to survive was unprecedented and, like a true gladiator, in the end won its freedom. I truly respect that fish and can say with a straight face that not all fish can be caught. And so the story went. Nothing even close to that leviathan has been caught since. Once in a while a report comes in over the crackly VHF of “ghosts” in the water “too large to be a fish” and reels with 900 yards of line being decimated in seconds. I even recall a mako shark that on being brought boatside was noted to have a machete-like gash on its flank. Big Nasty lurks down below; watching, waiting, ready for her next victim.
“You asked about Big Nasty. Now you’ve met her up close and personal,” was all the Captain could utter on the way in. Far from an ex-girlfriend, this fish was the love of his life.

[The Jurassic Drift]

Introducing…

A Team Fiasqo Event




Welcome to the……



Let us preface this post by stating that The Jurassic Drift Tournament Committee tried to put a twist on the traditional Swordfish Tournament and bring our friends in the South Florida fishing community something special. One of those twists we implemented was putting a little more thought and creativity into the actual post on the internet. We hope you enjoy the extra effort and creativity we put forth in every aspect of the tournament and we appreciate any and all feedback you can provide so that we can make this event better for you guys. That being said…..

The Jurassic Drift

The Kickoff Party will take place on July 21, 2007 at the IGFA Hall of Fame and Museum at Bass Pro Shop in Dania Beach, Florida. The party will go from 6 pm until 10 pm and will feature music, food, drinks, sponsor booths, and an unforgettable raffle. We will go over the rules and the divisions, but other than that, the party is very informal. We hope that participants take the time to introduce themselves and their families to each other. The goal we wish to achieve through the Kickoff Party is to get everybody on a more personal level with each other, thereby reducing the bickering on the radio and internet.





The IGFA agreed to keep the entire museum and the exhibits accessible during the party. Even if you are not participating in the tournament, this would be a great opportunity to bring the entire family to check out the museum as it is normally $10 per person. The facility is absolutely amazing and the people behind the scenes are even more impressive. They could not be any more kind, professional, and helpful in working with us on this project.

At the party, Seahunter Boats SeaHunter Boats - Builders of the World's Best Center Console Fishing Boat will be displaying their 35’ and 40’ boats. These boats are absolutely beautiful and amazing hardcore fishing machines. There is not an inch of wasted space on the boat.

Btw……There was a lot of smack talk recently after a race that took place in the Grove Slam regarding which center console boat manufacturer has the fastest boat on the market.

Here is a picture Chris Alverez of Seahunter sent to us the other day of the odometer on the 35’ they had just rigged……





This picture was taken when the motors were still in guardian mode achieving only 80% of their power……so, you guys can keep arguing…….but you are arguing about which boat is the second fastest boat on the market. (wink) SeaHunter Boats - Builders of the World's Best Center Console Fishing Boat

[The Jurassic Drift]

Back to the party…

There will be a great raffle and tickets are $5 each. The raffle items include swordfish prints by Adriane Gray



- 2 Swordfish Print by Pasta Pantaleo



- 2000 EU Honda Generator donate by John Potts at Palm Beach Generators Palm Beach Generator Home Page



- Jerry Brown Products

- Gift Certificates to The Whale’s Rib

- Gift Certificates to Flannigan’s Bar and Grille

- Gift Certificate to Altier Jeweler’s

- 2 Dive Certification Classes from Cove Dive Shop



- SwordSlasher Products

- Home Port Charts

- Conch Tales Charters


These items along with many more will be raffled off during the night of the Kickoff Party. Raffle tickets will be for sale for $5 and available for purchase at the Kickoff Party.

The Tshirt will be available for sale at the Kickoff Party. The Logo design, Tshirt and Poster Layout for the Jurassic Drift were all done by Chris Carpenter aka “General Turtle.”

Shirts:



Posters



**Sincere thanks to Adriane Gray HOME for letting us use his artwork for the Tshirts and Posters**

T-Shirts will be available at the captain’s party for $20 each.
The brochure for the tournament was done Bill Buckley “Uncle Buck.” Bill designed the majority of the ads that were used in the brochure from scratch, and in most cases with very little to work with. He is also very talented with the camera. Due to unforeseen circumstances, Bill recently started his own graphic design business and is hoping to get involved in the marine aspect of the business. To show you the quality of Bill’s work, here is a PDF Slide Show of the brochure for your viewing pleasure.

http://www.wgbuckley.com/pics/Jurassic-Drift-BR.pdf

Bill is trying to get his business off the ground, give him a call and see what he can do for you.

[The Jurassic Drift]

Now let’s get down to the tournament.

There are no boundaries and participants may fish out of any port they choose so long as they make it back to one of the two weigh stations by 6am.

There are two weigh stations where participants can weigh their fish:

Palm Beach – Sailfish Marina
Ft. Lauderdale – 15th St. Boat Ramp

*The Jurassic Drift Tournament Committee will not be responsible if participants are unable to find the weigh stations so make sure you are familiar with how to get to the corresponding weigh station by water.

First and foremost, before any one registers you must familiarize yourself with the rules. The rules for The Jurassic Drift can be found here:

The Jurassic Drift

Second, it is important that everybody understands that all entrants and participants do so at their own risk. The Captain of each registered vessel is solely responsible for the safety of all those aboard their vessel. By signing the registration form, the Captain clearly understands this responsibility, and releases from all liability the Jurassic Drift Swordfish Tournament, Innovative Offshore Tackle, LLC and any other individuals associated with the Tournament.

Ok……now lets get down to the tournament structure:

There are several divisions providing numerous opportunities to win some serious money and prizes. Each of the divisions is 100% Payout.

$250 is the general entry fee for the tournament. $50 of this general entry fee will be donated to Dr. Eric Orbeson of NOAA Southeast Fisheries to fund PSAT Tags to further his study of the Broadbill Swordfish. The remaining $200/per entry gets pooled and dispersed to the heaviest three fish weighed 100% Payout.

The “Tinker Mack” junior angler division is free. The Jurassic Drift considers a junior angler to be below the age of 16. The top Jr. Angler at the discretion of the tournament committee will win a 50 wide combo from Ray’s Bait and Tackle and a sword bill done by Capt Ken’s Sword Bills.



The “Darkside Diva” division is $300 to enter. 100% Payout 70/30 split to the two heaviest fish weighed by a boat with a female angler on board. The only requirement is that there is a female angler on board the vessel. Just to explain, we are encouraging female anglers to reel in the fish, however, swordfishing is a team sport and everybody on the boat plays a role. Due to the difficulty in enforcing a rule mandating an angler be either a male of female, we are not going to “police” the division further than requiring a female angler to be on board.
*The winning check for this and all divisions will be made out to the winning boats’ captains, thus if you have a Jr. Female Angler she is still eligible as the female angler in this category.

The “Gladiator” division is $500 to enter. 100% Payout 70/30 split to the two heaviest fish weighed by a boat entered in the Gladiator Division.

The “Big Nasty” division is $1000. 100% Payout to the boat with the heaviest fish.

[The Jurassic Drift]

Additionally,

The top three boats to place in the tournament, the top Female angler, and the top Jr. Angler will all receive a Swordfish Bill Trophy from Capt. Ken’s Swordfish Bills. Send Capt Ken an email and let him turn your swordfish bill into a trophy.





The Captain of the boat that weigh’s the heaviest fish, and the Lady angler of the winning boat of the Darkside Diva division will win an 18kt White Gold Pendant with VS1 Diamond set into the eye presented by Altier Jewelers located in Boca Raton.



The boat that weighs the heaviest fish in the “Big Nasty” division will be awarded an unforgettable Charter with Captain Mike Ellis aboard Relentless in Venice, Louisiana.



Checkout Venice Louisiana Tuna Fishing Charter - Relentless Sportfishing Charters for more information and reports of past charters.

Here are a few pictures from past trips we have taken with Capt Mike.





The Top Boat in each of the General Entry, Gladiator, and Big Nasty Divisions will win a Swordlight compliments of Rumblefish, Inc. Swordfish Fishing Under Water Light, Swordlight, Swordfishing Illuminated Fish Attractor - SwordLights.com

[The Jurassic Drift]

In addition to the money divisions we also added some prize divisions that participants may enter:

Alutecnos 80W “Get Tight Challenge”/Crowder “Standup Classic”


$100 Entry/Boat
For every ten boats that enter there will be an Alutecnos 80W / Crowder Custom Rods Swordfish Combo as the award for heaviest fish entered. Subject to number of entries, first place boat will win up to six combos, and remaining combos will go to second place boat. Thus, if sixty boats enter the division, the winning boat will receive 6 Alutecnos 80w’s on custom bent butt Crowder Rods.
Bahama Lure Rock and Troll Division



All Jurassic Drift paid entries are automatically entered, with no extra fee. Any swordfish caught while trolling is eligible for this division. The heaviest troll-caught swordfish will be awarded a BahamaLure swordfish lure pack, compliments of www.HandmadeTackle.com. You may weigh your troll-caught fish in addition to a larger drift-caught fish, if you have both.
Proof of a “troll-caught” fish will be a digital photo, date stamped with a date to be announced at the Kickoff Party. Photo must clearly show:
1) Fish still in the water
2) Lure clearly visible
3) No Gaff or Harpoon
4) Date Stamp
BONUS! If your winning troll-caught swordfish was caught using a BahamaLure product, you will also receive an 80-Class BahamaLure swordfish rod. BahamaLures are now available at:
LMR Tackle 1495 SE 17 St. Ft. Lauderdale. 954-525-2592

The website for the Jurassic Drift is The Jurassic Drift.

Lastly, we want to extend our thanks to our sponsors. The majority of the companies that you see on the sponsor’s page are fellow fishermen and great friends of the South Florida Swordfishing Community. They are local business consisting of people that care about the future of our fishery out front.

We look forward to seeing you at the Captain’s Party on July 21st, and let’s hope the weather holds for an epic night of fishing in “The Hunt for Big Nasty” on July 28th for the inaugural Jurassic Drift Swordfish Tournament. Ole Big Nasty’s waiting.

The Jurassic Drift Tournament Committee

If you have any questions or comments, feel free to email us at TheJurassicDrift@yahoo.com

[quack quack]

I want to fish it but cant

I will be at the kick off thats fo sho

[pelagic predator]

I want to fish it also, but we will be out of town

[quack quack]

I will be at the party with my 5yr old daughter Lil Ms Quack

[Tunachaser]

Now that's how you kick off a Sword Tournament! Nice work gents, we're really looking forward to this event!
Team "NV" (Lunkerdog.com) IN IT TO WIN IT - see y'all at the kick off party and again at the scales (we'll be the Bertram with Big Nasty in the cockpit )

[GENERALturtle.]

Alright Boys and Girls! The Hunt for Big Nasty is on....

[catching]

dam this was great work put into this guys

going to bring the whole clan to the party Saturday should be a great time

[quack quack]

Originally Posted by catching

dam this was great work put into this guys

going to bring the whole clan to the party Saturday should be a great time

Good that wiil give me a babysitter or 2

[catching]

My youngest and yours should get along great she is turning 6 on the 20th

[GENERALturtle.]

They have an awesome kids room in the IGFA. We can throw em all in there with some cookies and candy!
Fertile Turtle will have his entire basketball team there

[Another Grand]

Originally Posted by GENERALturtle.

Fertile Turtle will have his entire basketball team there

Holy Chit

[Nick C]

Awesome story! Looking forward to fishing it!

[Beerman]

AWESOME work guys

[snooknreds2]

Hell yea big nasty here I come!!