At what depth do you catch swordfish?
1400-1600 feet
One thing we all agree on is optimal depths to target with 1400-1600 feet being the prime zone for catching swordfish. We do catch them shallower and deeper, but the grand majority of swords harvested will come from this zone.
What is the pound leader for swordfish?
65 to 80-pound
Line: 65 to 80-pound test solid core braided line is used for the main running line of a swordfish rig.
How many pounds of drag do you need for swordfish?
When swordfishing at night, most fishermen recommended putting no more than 12 pounds of drag on the fish. Tensions higher than that can tear the hook from the soft flesh of a swordfish’s mouth. This is not feasible when using 5 to 10 pounds of weight and dropping up to 1800 feet.
What size hooks for swordfish?
For swordfish hooks, J-hooks work much better than circles. Regardless of brand, you’ll want a 9/0, 10/0, or 11/0 hook with a southern tuna style bend. We like to use Pakula Dojo Extra Strength hooks with a size 35 for foldovers and a size 40 for belly baits.
How long does it take to reel in a swordfish?
Eight hours is not the typical fight for a fish, Stanczyk said. Often, it’s between an hour to four hours for a big catch, but swordfish are a unique species.
How fast do you troll for swordfish?
Once you’ve presented your bait, start driving the boat against the current at a slower pace than the current. This means that if the current is about 3-4 knots, you should drive at 1.5–2 knots. Then, troll backwards with the current, at the same speed.
What are the Best Daytime Swordfish tactics?
There are multiple daytime Swordfish tactics that produce good results. We’ll look at three of them. Bump trolling is one of the most popular daytime swordfishing tactics. Here’s what it looks like. You start by rigging your bait and dropping it to a variety of depths using a buoy rod.
What equipment do you need to start swordfishing?
This is crucial for daytime swordfishing, as you’ll want to target waters that are 2,000 feet deep or more! Be ready for a long day on the water with the Huk Kryptek ICON Long Sleeve Tee. Rods: 7-foot bent-butt rods in the 80 to 100-pound class are standard for swordfishing.
What are the best fishing rods for swordfishing?
These rods have very soft tips to detect subtle bites, ring guides for proper line management, and a single sealed roller guide at the tip. Reels: Since swordfishing requires fishing at extreme depths with heavy weights, beefy electronic reels with extra large spools are favored by most anglers.
Is a strong current necessary for swordfishing?
Back in the day, a strong current used to be considered a prerequisite in Swordfishing. These days, that’s not the case. A second popular tactic for daytime Swordfishing is using breakaway sinkers when fishing against a strong current. When do you use this?