A few things are true about Daytime Electric Reel Swordfishing

[Cutler]

well said Jonny

[Captain Ollie]

Well, THE one great thing about deep dropping for swords is that they are still ALIVE and RELEASABLE when you get them to the surface.

I can't recall ever bringing ANYTHING (besides sharks) to the surface from 1000+ Ft that was releasable.

If the swords came up as good as dead the way eveything else does, then I think there would be better justification for the crying now taking place.

[Disco Lady]

COÑO!!!!!!!!!!

[Swording123]

Originally Posted by Another Grand

I find it odd that it is the younger generations that are showing the fish and the fishery the respect it rightfully deserves.

Mark my words.......you will eat your comments about this method of fishing being promoted by our "recreational" community if the decision in Washington is to open a general category.

Wait until ICCAT takes our quota away, our season could get shut down in no time, then watch somebody post a picture of 4 slobs on the computer caught with an electric reel that are going to market and lets see what the comments are.

Passing judgment on another fisherman's catch when he is within his limits, that is not my suit. Arguing what is and isnt sportfishing, not going to do that either.

Looking out for the best interest of our fishery and protecting our image in the sport fishing community so we dont lose the support of other recreational sportfishing groups, that is what I will voice my opinion on.

People on these forums are going to hate whether you post a small fish, or a big fish, rather you catch it on a 130 or a spinner......end of story.

However,

Until somebody gives me a reasonable explanation of why this method should continue to be promoted, I am going to do just the opposite, for reasons that I feel are for the better of the fishery, not becuase I think it is or isnt fishing, or is or isnt, morally or ethically correct.

Being to much of a bitch to reel the line in is no excuse. Everybody fishes at least a 5 rod spread, count the ft of line you have out, it is the same thing as having to reel your entire spread in yourself.....which I do every night I go fishing almost, throughout the entire night time and time again, because I go fishing, not boating.

I have been day dropping a few times, a three person crew can fish just as effectively without the aid of electric reel as those with the aid of electric reel, again by fishing and not boating.

Soooooo.......you can sit back and debate this topic and take offense to Chris's comments, or you can realize that not only does his opinion have some justification but it is going to be the opinion of many sportfisherman around the world, and thus we are not going to gain the respect we would be if we were fishing with rod and reel.

Nobody is wrong for the fish they caught, there is nothing wrong with catching a fish on an electric reel to figure out that it could be done. That time has came and gone.

Right/Wrong ....who knows who cares.......good/bad........until everything with the immediate future of our fishery is determined......I am going with BAD.

All I am saying is......go out and daydrop, it is a great fishery. If you choose to use your electric reel, as you are well within your legal right to do. Just dont post pics or stories about it on the internet.....that is all I am asking.

OR............keep fishing with the electrics, but RELEASE the fish because, like Chris, I have a little more respect for this fish that to justify you deserving to kill it and would like to maintain our reputation in the sportfishing community, as recreational sport fisherman even if for nothing else than that we are going to need their assistance in the future.

That is my opinion. Just like Chris, I am entitled one.

I would like to hear the opinion of the individuals that were pushing that the bouy guys killed all the fish. That have now turned around and are promoting the harvest of these big fish with electric reels.......feel free to chime in anytime fellas

Respect!

Johnny

Glad to see there is a few other people on here against catching and killing the swords with the electrics... We also have had no problem cranking up the lead with 3 or 4 guys on the boat... and it makes it so much sweeter when there is a fish on there... and especially when he swims the lead up to the top... but I agree 100% and think a swordfish should be respected more than a snowy grouper and a tile fish... maybe the guys with the electrics are afraid to break a nail or something...

[Captain Ollie]

SO if you think about it, you just might be doing the fish a favor by using an electric if your intentions are to release it.

The longer the fight, the more tired and stressed the fish will be upon release thereby probably increasing its chances of dying from either trauma or becoming prey, since it may be too worn out to make an escape it would normally have been able to make.

[PURPLE FEVER]

Originally Posted by Kevinm

What does it really matter what you catch it on. As long as we are all legal, use good judgements on what fish to keep, then there is no difference. Everyone sees a catch in the daytime, but they do not realize what goes into making that catch a reality. For instance if the man behind the wheel can't drive or have knowledge of currents and boat handling in that current, you will not catch anything. All you will end up with is a tangled mess. What about the choice of a drop spot, alot goes into that as well. I have made a lot of drops, with the fish winning most of the time, and some really big fish. I have also hand cranked up from 1600 ft and I am not doing it again. So to the people that are against electric reel fishing, don't do it, but don't condemn those who want to.

[DIRTYFOOT2]

holy crap. The natives are craaanky. Hang in there fellas, looks like the wind is gonna give us a short break soon.

[kyle]

Okay I have the solution to everybody's problem.
When you get the fish hooked start cranking.
If you don't hook up push the button.
I'd be interested in seeing how many after 10 minutes forget the handle and find the foot pedal


Or better yet how do you classify this one


I'm sorry for posting these pic, but I'll be damned if anyone will persuade me that a 300lb fish on an electric reel is not an accomplishment.

[Another Grand]

Well I will tell you that I certainly agree that catching a fish that big on handgear, electric reel or rod and reel is an accomplishment ....so please dont equate me with that group.

And....I will tell you that I fish to target breeders, in fact, I fish to kill the biggest breeding big nasty bitch in the ocean. And if I put her in the boat, I will send my baits right back out, and target the breeders again. I have no problem with the fact that the fish are breeders or that it is a fishery that targets bigger fish. So dont equate me with that group

My dad has a plaque in his office:

God give me grace to catch a fish so big
that even when telling of it afterward
I may never need to lie again

That plaque does wonders for revealing the mentality of "sport" fishing

My reason for my opinion is proven by the thread on FS and the thread on here .....people are not going to like the idea in the recreational fishing community .....regardless of whether we support it or not.....and that is not good for us when we need to cull support.

And.....the plain fact is......wait and see what happens if they open a general category. Where is Vinnie to back me up?

Anyways.....like I have been saying.....what happened....I thought all the fish were getting killed by the bouys?

Is it impossible to be rationale on here or in respect to fisheries? Can you believe there is no right or wrong answer to alot of issues we face?

We should not be defending this or arguing sport or not sport with respect to today, we should be looking at this issue the same as other issues and that is what future problems may result that could be bad for our fishery.

Open up that general category, and you will see exactly my point.

If that does not occur, and our fisheries future is more stable.

I will change my opinion to that of KevinM

Until then, it is worthless to debate the issue, or any issue with individuals that see these problems as black and white.

Since....I dont want to be mistaken by people, and I dont want people to think I am a hypocrite if I am on a boat with an Electric reel going out swordfishing I will state it again.......it is not taking anything away from a great catch and it does not make you wrong for fishing in this manner.

In my opinion Crying = "It is too far too reel up"

BTW....is there not a Daiwa reel bigger than Buck's that would allow you to fight the fish, but retrieve the wieght with power if you dont get a bite.

I think we can all agree that it is not retrieving the weight, but fighting the fish where this conflict of opinion is.

[Shark Tagger]

Originally Posted by DIRTYFOOT2

holy crap. The natives are craaanky. Hang in there fellas, looks like the wind is gonna give us a short break soon.

my thoughts exactly

[quack quack]

I have to admit seeing those bandit reels gets my blood pumping.Why because some of the funnest fishing I have done was with bandits.200lb+ yft on a manual bandit is beond fun and very sporting.Back in the day when I was LLing in the gulf for tuna we would haul gear at night and sleep during the day.Well I was young and often could not sleep.So I would go on deck and fish a little.I would start chumming and would always be covered up with dolphin.Some times a wahoo or 5 would start swimming around the boat as well.I would handline all the fish on one of our gaigions(LL leader).I would flip 30 to 50lb dolphin over the rail one after the other.Then one day some small tuna show up with the dolphin.I get a couple small blackfins and a small yft about 20 or 30lbs.Now this is with a couple wraps around my hand with a glove on.After about 20 min I notice some bigger fish down deep eating the chunks I am throwing over.I tried to get a bait down deep but the leader was to short(thank god).So I hook up a leader to the bandit we used to reel in green fish off the mainline.It looked like Kyle's bottom pic.It had a drag system on the side.Well I finally get a bait past the dolphin and small tuna and bam I get freight trained by a monster yf.The bandit only had about 75yd of line on it and at full drag 60lb+ it was gone in 2 sec.Igrab a poly ball and snap it on to the bandit line.The fish almost pull it under and starts to do that big tuna spin.I am saying to myself what the hell do I do now.I start cranking on the bandit and slowly started to gain some line.I got the poly back up only to have to clip it on again a few seconds later.I got it back up and the fish was starting to spin tighter and coming up nicely.I get to the leader and start handlining it in.Now I forgot to get a gaff.So I had to hold the leader with one hand and reach for the gaff.

So now I am ready to gaff this fish on the next spin I reach over and hit the fish right in the top of the head and kill it dead.Now the fun part hauling a 200lb tuna up to the door.I stood there for 5 min thinking how the hell am I going to do this.After almost lifting it straight up and in I almost fell out of the boat.Not wanting to wake the crew I had to figure this out.So I got a meat hook tied it to a rope and used the spool pulley to winch it in a few inches at a time.Finally I get the fish on deck.I am whipped and now have a bunch of fish to dress out and ice down.But being young and dumb I bait back up and 1 min later I am hooked up again with another slob yellow.This time I knew I needed help so I start banging on the deck.About 5 min later one of the crew Bill comes out on deck and asks what the hell is all the banging about.I told him to look behind me.He See's the tuna on deck and his eye jump out of his head.He then notices the bandit bent over and runs over to help me.Now with 2 guys on deck we could do this.We got that fish pulled a hook and got another as well.It was a blast to do.But then we had to dress and chill the fish before we could pack them.So by time we got done it was time to get up and start hauling the gear.I had about 2 hrs sleep and he had 3.while the Capt was happy to have another 3 nice tuna we paid for it the next few days.

[Yellowfinhunter1]

Another Grand - didn't you go daytime swording a few weeks back...?

[quack quack]

I think he had weight issues

[Another Grand]

I have gone a couple times.

Read my posts, I have no problem at all with daytime swordfishing. I think is is insane.

It does makes me worried, but only because of Electric reels.

The last two times I went with Cutler we used that LP S1200 and it is no joke one of the sickest contraptions I have ever scene.

I will likely go out and fish the reel with Cutler again, which is why I made that last post. I am not going to decline a trip because we are using electric or condemn anybody or their catch if they use electric.

All I am saying is that I dont think it is the best idea to be promoting the catches or the method online...people have opinions......and we could be facing some serious problems in my opinion, with this method, if they open up that general category....which is technically, FUD....but being that they have done dumber shit, I would not put it past them.

I also think that the resoning I have scene by people using the reels, is not justified being that we are fishing and not boating out there.

I have also gone in years past with rod and reel. It is not as bad as they want to make it out to be, just a different apporach......longer drift, banding a jug and staying slacked off on a jug instead of trying to maintain boat position and hold bottom.

Were you with Cogzwell....if so, nice catch, I saw the report.

I respect the fish......end of story. I would rather catch one on a rod and reel than an electric reel.

[Beerman]

But AG, I get to drink more Beer with Electrics, they even have cup holders on most models

[Another Grand]

And if you invited me and you were using an electric reel, I am not going to decline the trip because I just love to go fishing.

Personally, I think Sport Fishing is the biggest joke of a "sport" I have ever heard......my concerns are the opinion that the rest of the "sportfishing" community both domestically and globally will have if they find out we have been bitching about any commercial interests in our backyard for all this time, while we are winching up huge fish with electric reels and putting them in the boat.

I fish 130's, these same individuals that are selling the electric reels or supporting the method have chastized me in the past saying that my reels arent sporty

Thats some hypocritical bullshit!

[Another Grand]

I have also had some epic battles that left me in awe of the fish, my hand barely able to open the next day, my legs sore from rocking around in a 20' boat with my knees banging the gunnels, my whole body sore, feeling like absolute death..........

And.....I have never felt better in my life as pulling that fish over the gunnel

Because I felt like I rightfully defeated the fish.

A magnificent creature.

I am not going to be one of these hyporcrites and take sides on the issue. I will offer my opinion though.....and my opinion is only that it may not be the best idea, and I dont know that we should be supporting it being that there is alot on the plate right now.

Honestly, for the next year, we need to catch as many fish as possible. So.....if that is what it accomplishes, it is a good thing, but if Rons numbers are right, we are only reporting 1 out of 4 fish.....if that is true.

My honest opinion remains that the recreational fishery should be shut down.

(plus I cant afford gas to take my boat out)

[Another Grand]

There were limiting factors in the night time swordfishery, mainly.....
1) fear
2) cost of gear

Datime fishing eliminates those two things, I think that if the limiting factors in Daytime fishing would be
1) bitches that are too lasy to reel up the line when they are out fishing

The fishery will be all right, even if they open up that general category.

[Broadbill-Pro]

For the record:

Cranking aside, catching them on the bottom in 1600+ feet of water in the Gulf Stream is substancially more difficult than catching them on the drift at night.

The method of allowing the reel to recover the line may not be "sporty", but the electric method fits the task of that fishery. I have never been one to praise a rod & reel angler, seems to me that with the correct drag setting and terminal gear it is just a game of time to catch a fish of any size. 9 times out of 10 it is the Captain operating the vessel who is responsible for the capture.

When I hear of a large fish being caught, my thoughts immediatly turn to praise the man who located, wired and gaffed/harpooned the fish. Not the warm blooded cranking device strapped to a reel. Those phases of the sport remain in the electric reel fishing method.

I have already stated that we should proceed with this fishery in a responsible manner. Those who have said that they will never fish at night again worry me.

[Another Grand]

Originally Posted by Broadbill-Pro

For the record:

Cranking aside, catching them on the bottom in 1600+ feet of water in the Gulf Stream is substancially more difficult than catching them on the drift at night.

I understand what your getting at, and like I said I think Daytime fishing in general is insane, and I feel that more skill and fishing knowledge would be involved in a day tournament to a certain extent.

The method of allowing the reel to recover the line may not be "sporty", but the electric method fits the task of that fishery. I have never been one to praise a rod & reel angler, seems to me that with the correct drag setting and terminal gear it is just a game of time to catch a fish of any size. 9 times out of 10 it is the Captain operating the vessel who is responsible for the capture.


Retrieving the line when you dont have bite, I agree. Fighting the fish, that is where people are going to differ with you

When I hear of a large fish being caught, my thoughts immediatly turn to praise the man who located, wired and gaffed/harpooned the fish. Not the warm blooded cranking device strapped to a reel. Those phases of the sport remain in the electric reel fishing method.

With all due respect, you spent a life time at sea fishing for swords with an electric reel.

I have already stated that we should proceed with this fishery in a responsible manner. Those who have said that they will never fish at night again worry me.

Got me a little worried too.....

That is all.

I think I am gonna Dreel one up this weekend with a 12volt cordless, that would be sporty........maybe get a generator and a hammer drill.....would that be sporty.