REEL FISHING TIPS: SWORDFISH AND STRIPED MARLIN

sometimes sighted by a lookout on calm sunny days, floating with fin and tail above the water, or at other times thrashing a school of forage fish. as soon as the big fish is spotted , the captain maneuvers to a position where he can circle, dragging the bait or teaser lure across in front of the fish . the usual bait being a small barracuda, mackerel , mullet, or flying Fish. the teaser lure is hook less, it is highly colored, and about fourteen inches long . the baited hook is then let out and allowed to sink in front of the fish, then slowly pulled away. if this sword wielding as warrior hits it , he will need a lot of line. the timing in setting the hook in all bill fish angling is the most important, and very few beginners have the patience to wait out the long countdown.

the novice should start off with extra heavy tackle: for broad bill swordfish, a 9/0 reel loaded with 80 pound-test dacron; a 12-foot sevalon leader of 80-pound test; and a 10/0 hook. he should keep the rod butt in the gimple of the fighting chair through the trolling and the contest, instead of fishing from the belt, as some old timers prefer.basefishing.com

the bait, a flying fish, mackerel, or other bait fish 10 or 12 inches long, is harnessed so that it will ski on the surface without revolving or coming loose easily-this, when an outrigger pole is used. for marli, the outrigger serves to keep the line high enough that the bait will skip about forty feet behind the stern. the line is attached by a break away clip, barely secure enough to hold against the pull of the bait. when trolling, the reel is set in freewheeling with the click on, to avoid backlash. the star drag is set with barely enough tension to fight the fish but never below the breaking point of the line.

when the outrigger is not used, as when the line runs directly from the fishing rod, ski-bait glides on the surface and seems just as effective as a whole baitfish.

when the fish strikes, the boat is stopped, and the skipper waits for the angler to make a long count of twenty and give him the "go" signal to plunge ahead to take up all the slack in the line. only then does the angler set the hook. this timing allows the fish enough time to get the hook down its gullet. if it is merely hooked in the mouth, the hook can be expelled unless a taut line is not maintained at all times, whether the fish is jumping or not.

rhythm pumping will cause the marlin to jump and otherwise tire itself out more quickly. this technique, now applied for other game fish, was originally introduced in fishing marlin.

a great range of tackle is employed in angling for marlin: from a heavy 6/0 reel and equipment for the beginner to light spinning tackle for the record collector. the most efficient and least strenuous is: a #349 pen type reel, loaded with 30 to 50 pound-test limp dacron; no swivel or sinker; a 12-foot blue sevalon leader; a no. 7/0 to 9/0 sobey or mustad hook.

in billfish angling, the skipper's technique is as important as the angler's. a fairly recent development is keeping the boat circling the hooked fish so that the line is kept taut and always at angle.thus when the fish sounds, the boat pulls away to maintain the angle, instead of allowing the line to hang straight down. if the skipper is very proficient at this, almost anyone can take a marlin on fairly light tackle