Breakfast Broadbills - Are you ready?

Breakfast Broadbills - Are you ready?  The conclusion of a two part series.

In the Nov/Dec 2007 issue - Breakfast Broadbills Part I - we delved deep into the buzz and hype surrounding the new and exciting daytime swordfishery occurring right under our noses. Topics included various rigging techniques, bait selection and the ongoing debate over manual vs. electric equipment – which is surely one that will go on for quite some time to come. Join us now as explore what steps to take for getting there, getting hooked up and getting the fish in the boat!

My most recent attempt at daytime swordfishing left me with a huge insight into how unpredictable broadbill swordfish can really be, as well as reminded me just how challenging detecting a strike with over 2,000 feet of heavy line extending into the cobalt sea can actually be.  

It all started as just another beautifully calm day with an abnormally weak current presiding over the sword grounds. A close fishing buddy, Ben Green, and I arrived at a set of numbers that had been producing consistent results during our nighttime excursions. I slowed the boat to investigate the area and dialed in my Furuno sounder to read the lower 400 feet of the water column. It took a while, but we eventually found strong markings that resembled the pods of squid I was so familiar seeing while fishing the Northeast canyons. 

I punched-in a quick waypoint on the GPS as Ben readied a squid on a breakaway rig. With the lackluster current, it was easy to stay on top of the target. The breakaway rig worked flawlessly and we eagerly waited for the tell-tale signs of a hungry swordfish striking our squid. No more than 20 minutes passed when out of the corner of my eye, I caught the glimpse of a large splash off the starboard bow. I saw the commotion once again however, this time I could see in plain sight what appeared to be a 200-plus pound broadbill breaching directly in front of the boat. My eyes quickly shifted back to the rod in hopes that the raging fish I saw on the surface was somehow connected to our line. Nothing was out of the ordinary. We were still completely straight up and down with no visible scope. 

Ben let the bait flutter in the current for another 10 minutes before he started to crank it up. Our daytime swordfish policy is to drown baits for no more than 30 minutes before checking them to ensure nothing is fouled. As I maintained Liquid Gold’s position into the current, Ben kept asking me to push forward because his line was creeping under the bow. It wasn’t until he reached the final 300 feet that we realized we were actually hooked up! In the blink of an eye, line suddenly started screaming straight off the port side as we simultaneously witnessed another aerial display from the very acrobatic billfish. Anyone who is still under the false impression that swordfish don’t jump, is sadly mistaken. Ben had apparently been cranking on this fish for over 15 minutes without even knowing it! The beefy broadbill then made a heroic dive and for more than two more hours, battled to the death until I was finally able to get a clean shot with the harpoon. 

Keep in mind that the way this particular swordfish acted is fairly typical of daytime broadbills, at least as far as the fish I have encountered are concerned. The event instilled in me just how important it is to keep track of our precise position in relation to exactly where we “dropped.” Nowadays, we never put a bait in the water without referencing the exact “drop spot” with a waypoint. 

The encounter also led to another important discovery that is usually the keystone to any successful fishing excursion – location…location…location. It is obvious that today’s offshore-capable fishing machines have become increasingly expensive to own and operate, but they also come equipped with the latest and greatest in technology. Knowing how to harness this technology only increases your odds of success during this already challenging daytime fishery and will surely help you land that monster broadbill you have been dreaming about.  

Ask any angler addicted to the Dark Side and he or she will surely tell you that successful swordfishing requires a watchful eye on bottom contours and bait concentrations – day or night. It is also no secret that swordfish actively feed in the lower portion of the water column during daylight hours, so finding concentrations of squid or other forage sources dramatically increases your chances of crossing paths with these pelagic powerhouses.   

The Liquid Gold is equipped with a Northstar 952 GPS which has operated flawlessly for us but nonetheless, leaves a lot to be desired as far as bottom detail and contours are concerned. Tangible swordfish charts are much more accurate but still leave you running your index finger north, south, east and west to determine exactly where you are. Modern color sounders found on today’s offshore fishing vessels are capable of reading bottom contours and fish in depths in excess of 2,000 feet. Not one of these fish-finding tools alone will bring you continued success, but being able to integrate them together will surely increase your odds exponentially. 

Ever since I started swordfishing here off southeast Florida, I have always paid close attention to bottom detail on the sword grounds, as it always prove to have a direct correlation with my angling success. This is especially true southeast of Miami’s Government Cut, because there is so much variance on the bottom out there. My swordfishing routine, day or night, now involves pinpointing general areas I would like to target directly on a paper chart that reveals detailed bottom contours and then scouting the desired area upon arrival – using my bottom sounder to confirm and locate the contours and my GPS to permanently mark their position for further investigation.

One of my favorite daytime swordfishing areas is a hump (25°40.6’N/79°50.3’W) that rises to around 1700 feet from a surrounding depth of over 2,000 feet. For some unknown reason, this particular hump is not recognized on my chart plotter so my first order of business was locating the area and then marking the perimeter on my GPS. I entered a number of waypoints around the perimeter of the hump and a few in the middle with the tag name containing the depth soundings recorded on my bottom machine. This way while dropping, I can easily pinpoint my location in a split-second instead of referring to a hard-copy chart. I have followed a similar routine with many spots and as a result, the extra effort has allowed me to experience a much greater level of success.

Now that you are effectively dropping baits on promising grounds, it’s time to consider how you are going to battle and safely boat the sword-wielding fish that you will inevitably hook. This can prove to be difficult, especially because of the extreme depths and vast amount of line between you and your adversary. Many anglers have opted to fish for daytime broadbills with stout outfits, either manual or electric, and seven foot rods. Many fish are fought directly from the rod holder which is effective, as is any suitable stand-up set-up. In either scenario, it is necessary to have your equipment properly fitted to the designated angler with either a suitable rod holder that swivels and is designed to withstand large amounts of drag, or a quality stand-up harness that is both comfortable and durable during even the longest and most intense battles. In either scenario, a safety line tethering equipment to boat is a good idea.  

As mentioned in my opening account, once a fish is hooked, it is sometimes difficult to figure out exactly where the fish is in relation to the boat; this is why I find it necessary to be behind the wheel maneuvering the boat for the entire duration of the fight. My first step is determining which direction the fish is heading in, and then positioning the boat on top of it and preferably slightly in front of the fish. This is important because it is much easier to control and dominate a big fish when you are right on top of its evasive maneuvers. 

Current is also a big factor while controlling fish in a fight and you can use it to your advantage. Fighting a fish from a dead boat provides the fish a huge advantage as the boat can actually be pushed away from the fish by the powerful Gulf Stream current. Properly positioning the boat will help even the playing field. 

As you continue to apply pressure, even the largest broadbill will inevitably begin to tire. Like tuna, swordfish settle into a circling pattern which can be difficult and intense, making the last part of the fight truly agonizing. During this situation, the angler will be able to gain line during the outside of the circle but routinely lose line as the fish turns toward the boat and passes underneath - this results in a give and take situation that can be frustrating and draining. I prefer to keep the boat into the current so the fish hopefully follows the same position. As the beaten warrior approaches to within leadering distance, it is very important to continue forward movement. Be careful; the fish may suddenly change direction and come dangerously close to your vessel’s unforgiving running gear.

As the leader man does his duties and your trophy nears the surface, now is the time to make the decision to harvest or release. For a safe, healthy release, leader the fish alongside the boat and cut the leader as close to the hook as possible, if dislodging the hook is not a possibility. If you intend on taking the fish for the table, it is a good idea to make sure all necessary tools are nearby and handy. While flying gaff and straight gaffs work, when I have a big fish on the line, I opt for the harpoon. Reason being, a harpoon allows access at a much further distance, which translates into added safety when the fish is struck. Harpooning the fish while just under the surface of the water allows everyone on board to remain at a safe distance from a flying bill or thrashing tail and gives the fish an opportunity to relax until it is ready to be boated.

Now that the job is done and your trophy daytime swordfish has nearly met his demise, is firmly tethered and ready to be brought aboard, caution must be taken to insure no harm comes to the crew or the boat. A hefty swordfish is a worthy opponent and even after a lengthy battle, will still have enough energy to strike back. A sharp, four-foot long bill can easily damage gelcoat and the finish on your outboard engines, tear vinyl cushions and bolsters, or worse yet, destroy fragile ankles. Leather gloves are a must as is a team effort. 

Swordfish Conservation: Know the law!

Swordfish are perhaps the most sought after game fish in the entire state of Florida, and with reports of 200-pound plus fish caught every week, it is obvious that we need to do our part to ensure the longevity of this great gladiator. While swordfish make great table fare, there is no need to harvest more than one fish per trip. Let’s all do our part to help protect this amazing fishery by practicing catch-and-release tactics whenever possible during both day and night trips. Together, we can make a difference.

·        47 inch minimum length measured from fork of tail to lower jaw.

·        One fish per person or three per vessel, whichever is less.

·        Highly Migratory Species permit required to harvest.

·        All landed fish must be reported to NOAA (800.894.5528 or www.HMSpermits.gov) within 24-hours.