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Miami - Haulover to Fowey Light
Capt. Dean Panos
April 17, 2002
Miami - Saltwater Fishing Report
4/17/02
We went out yesterday for an evening fishing trip and ended up the evening with 3 out 5 fish. Normally you would say that catching three out of five tarpon was a good evening but we caught 3 out 5 Swordfish!
Although it was still blowing a steady 15 or more out of the east, the seas were a bit bumpy out to our fishing areas 15 miles offshore, but it was definitely worth it. We had strike almost immediately. As we were setting up our first drift, we were sending out the third bait, when the rod tip started bouncing violently. For those that have been swordfishing, this is indicative of when a swordfish is using his massive bill to kill the bait. After this swordfish killed the bait with his bill, he for whatever reason, never came back to claim his prey. Although we missed the first fish, we were optimistic, knowing we were in the right area.
We now had all our baits out, I was looking in the water, when all of a sudden a swordfish swam from underneath my boat. Running to the shallowest rod, we cranked in the rod with the bait, tore off the heavy sinker and freelined our bait to the swordfish still swimming in the area. Seconds later, the swordfish attacked the bait and repeatedly batted the bait with his bill, and I mean repeatedly. After what seemed like an eternity, the swordfish batted this bait around at least 15 times and we finally got a hookset. While up on the rod and fighting the swordfish, the deepest rod got hit and we now had a double header. The second fish was quite big, as he successfully peeled off 300 yards of 80 pound mono within less than a minute. As we tried to get up on the second fish, he stopped running and then started coming towards the boat. Unable to pick up the slack fast enough, the second fish ended up throwing the hook. No big worries though as we still had the first fish on and after a short battle had that fish boatside.
We continued on our drift and set out a new set of baits. Within the next two hours, we caught two more swordfish and released both. The last two fish were small, and releasing these fish will help ensure that these magnificent creatures will grow bigger to fight another day. This is a great fishery and as long as we are careful and responsible, it hopefully will continue to get better.
Swordfishing off of Florida is good year round, but as summer approaches, the seas get calmer, and more anglers try their luck with probably one of the most magnificent and probably one of the meanest fish in the ocean.
If you want give swordfishing a try, and experience the thrill of these fish, give me a call and let’s set up a trip. Remember, you can’t catch fish from your couch.
Tight Lines and Good Fishing,
Capt. Dean Panos
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