NOTES FROM SWORDFISH SEMINAR

• Fish the inner banks…….9, 181, 302, 152’ 14, 267, 277.
• Don’t overlook the San Clemente Canyon.

The Hunt:
Before setting up at night you must begin the hunt. My thoughts are start out about 3pm head to your spots. Look for temp brakes, working birds, currant lines, water color

• Fish are deep until sunset then come to the surface
• Work the warm side of the brake
• Look for life, seals, whales, meter marks.
• Scum lines, currant lines, kelp paddies.
• Also jellyfish in large numbers a good sign.
• Water color and temp………off blue is best for color and temps of 67 to 69.

Night time fishing:
Once you have found the spot you want to fish it’s time to put out the lines.

• SLOW TROLL……..2 to 4 knots
• Work tight grids………box in ¼ mile size grids
• Set lines in depths according to moon phase
• New moon…… try 20feet……40……60……..80.
• ½ moon………..maybe 40, 60, 80, and 100.
• Full moon ……..go deeper
• The tides……best time is in a SLACK TIDE.
• Then next best time is one hour before to one hour after the tide change.

Your gear:

• Reels, nothing smaller then a two speed 30 wide
• Line…80 # Leader….250# to 300#
• Hooks 9/0 offset.
• Light sticks

BAIT:

• SQUID
• Whole rock fish
• Hake
• Mackerel
• Bonito

Fighting the fish:

• Swordies have very soft mouths…….so use light drags…15 to 20#
• Keep line tight at all times (try not to back down on fish)
• Instead of buttoning down the drag palm the spool
• Once to leader, leader man has to be careful NOT to pull too hard on fish.