Swordfish on Fly

[flyfishingben]

I know a captain that can get me some legitimate shots at night swords on fly. What I need are tackle suggestios. I know I'll need at least a 13wt, but do I need a bigger setup and how much backing should I use? If anybody has any suggestions I could use the knowledge. Has anyone in florida targeted swordfish on fly? Is there a fly record for swords? Any info would help.

I'll definitely post some pics when I catch one!

[soundownsam]

I am not sure about the record or the gear as I am not a fly fisherman, however, as far as swordies on the fly I would recoemdn Bouncer Smith out of Miami. I know that he has at least one caught on his boat. I have never chartered with Bouncer, however, he has a stellar reputation as a great guide.

They are tough enoguh fish on 50's and 80's I am sure it would be a heck of a fight on fly tackle.

Sam

[Capt.ChrisLembo]

Have not hooked up with any on fly but if I was to do the conventional to fly "conversion" I would say that a 15 wt would be more like it. I have caught small (200 lb.) Marlin on a 15 wt. 8'6" Shikari blank,fuji guides,seat, precision gimbal butt. Pate Marlin reel loaded with 80 lb. Spectra backing and a billfish sinking line. I would not go any smaller unless you only target the little guys. They will sound and you need the lifting power.

[soundownsam]

MOst of the shot you will get in South Florida will be in the 80 to 150 lb range although they do get bigger. A 100 lb swordie will fight like a 200lb Marlin.

Sam

[swordboy]

I would definitely go with a 14 or 15 weight with some serious backing, proably in the 80lb range [don't be afraid to go higher}. A known fly fishing expert in Miami, Marty Arestogui, landed a pup on fly. Try attatching a cyalume stick to your leader, close to the fly, when that sword pops up behind that hydro glow. That's how he got his.

[DartFish]

Never tagerted swords, but I would say based on tuna experience, 14 wt. with a large arbor tibor, abel, hayden or Islander reel (best drags on the market), 500 yards of spectra/ gel spun backing (50lb) and most importantly, the RIO tuna sinking line, designed especially with a stronger core that your average flyline ... that should cover the gear, hopefully the body will hold up when the sword sounds.

[rhino]

I know a captain that can get me some legitimate shots at night swords on fly. What I need are tackle suggestios. I know I'll need at least a 13wt, but do I need a bigger setup and how much backing should I use? If anybody has any suggestions I could use the knowledge. Has anyone in florida targeted swordfish on fly? Is there a fly record for swords? Any info would help.

I'll definitely post some pics when I catch one!


a 1/4 mile of backing is all that is needed for larger striped marlin. a mile is 5280 feet divied by 4 = 1320 feet on the abel big game 5 and super 14 and 13 in dacron or spetra which the super 5 carrys 800 of 30 pound 800x3=2400
which is a little over kill for white marlin and sail fish now swords on the other hand big tackle like this in the 14 -17 wt will work you can get away with a reel that will hold a 14 and 275 of dacron 30 pound and doubble the backing buy putting on gel spun 275x2=550x3=1650 feet old florida fly reel make a no 7 and a no 8 if you can find the number 8 in this class the no 7 will hold 14 and 275 of 30 pound so if money is a issue you can go with the old florida instead of the abel for rods there is tfo and looptackle in the low end price range and there is sage and scott t&t etc.. for the high range for a fly i would check with local fly shop to see what they are cathing them on my guess is your heading out of miami or biscane bay area that is were the shelf is close enough to the shore so a long run out is not needed so there are fly shop in that area and guides all over the state to if you are leaving some were else i am sure there is a fly shop in that area or some guide that may be helpfull just remember that the abel big game 5 is ment for the biggest of fish like 1200 pound marlin now swords grow to 15 ft and around 1300 pounds so do not think small


any ways good luck and tight lines rhino --123-3 --123-3 --123-3

[PanamaJack]

Probably one of the most 'consistent' - alright no where's REALLY consistent -venues for Broadbill on a fly is on the banks off Kenya's Indian Ocean coastline. They fish at night from drifting boats and tease normally immature fish to the surface on squid rigged with light sticks. One of our Club members has released two (best appeared just under the existing IGFA world record) and lost several bigger ones, one after 4 hours. They do sound!

Let me contact him - he's just moved to Canada's Pacific coast - and I'll get back with any tips he can pass on.
Kindest Regards
Dave West
Chairman - Sportfishing Club of the British Isles
www.scbi.org.uk

[lemaymiami]

Many years ago the night swords were discovered by local sportsmen here in Miami. For two years locals could count on shots at fish as big as they get. This was around 1974. No one that I know of then targetted them on fly. It all ended when commercial longliners moved in and slaughtered them. In just one year that fishery disappeared. Now many years later we've got a nice night fishery again for much smaller fish. Wish you luck. Bouncer's my recommendation since I believe that's who put Marty Arostegui on his sword on fly...

Here's something to keep in mind. In 1974 Al Pflueger hooked one on 20lb gear that was estimated in the 600lb range. He fought that fish all night and had the fish near the boat as dawn was breaking the next day... At first light the fish sounded in deep water and that was that... Al at the time held many world records... He's a big guy, too. Any sword in the 200lb range is likely to do the same to someone using fly gear... Good luck.