First Daytime Bluewater Swordfish

Got an invitation to join Colby Uva on a daytime swordfish trip and we sailed out of Haulover cut after castnetting a couple dozen horse pilchards.The morning was fresh but the ripples on the bay water showed me the January whitecaps would be our company to make our voyage and search for a Grander sword a not so easy one.

the light of a glorious but cold January morning in South Fla

the city of many tales in the background as we head towards the inlet and our search for a sworded fish

the baitwell's got pilchards and we are have have the possibility of tangling with blue/gold/striped and assorted pelagics courtesy of a 10 foot cast net

We went 21 miles out to a favorite place Captain Chris Balseiro has where the water is 1800 feet deep and where he has caught and lost many swordfish including some approaching 800 pounds.This new new technique of catching daytime swords as so many other techniques attributed to Florida fishermen was pioneered only a few years ago by Capt Stancyk out of Bud and Mary's marina in Islamorada. The swells were 4 to 6 foot with ann occasional 6-8 footer in for good measure so our preparations were delayed a bit by a careful approach to the hunting grounds far offshore.The brand ne Hooker Electric reel on a Shimano Tiagra 80 wide was our weapon of choice spooled with 80 pound braid and a 100 foot 200 lb wind leader.Of late and in winter time the biggest of swordfish are caught in the Gulf Stream along south Florida's coast but I felt the cold front still sitting on top of us and bringing the temps down to the high 40's and low 50's might shut down the swordy's in the deeper water so after fishing 1800 for 2 1/2 hours i suggested we try shallower warmer waters and we were rewarded with a 70 lb specimen in 1575 feet within the first 15 minutes of dropping our bait to the bottom in the shallower depths.Fishing these deep waters requires weights up to 15 lbs and on this day we neede 12 lbs to get us down near the bottom.It is a fascinating technique we used to find these fish with baits thought up by local and very private individuals whoa t this time won't allow me to divulge ther exact method,but suffice it to say that it works and I for one was amazed.

dropping down the bait takes a long while

Capt Chris has a trained and watcthful eye and knows when to hit the switch and WE'RE HOOKED UP!!!

prepping the Harpoon and the Flying gaff just in case we get a Big One

getting closer Colby is ready gaff in hand

the fish thrashes the surface but is easily subdued and now behind the 27 foot Pursuit walkaround boat
notice the light at the top of the leader

Colby hits the gaff home in a perfect "hard spot"

the bloodied bluewater fighter is brought into the boat

watch that sword they can do some nasty damage

not bad for a day in the 50's ,21 out and 1575 down

This will be a year to catch some very nice fish ,,,,,tight lines y'all 'Catch a Monster'