Swordfishing

twoutes · July 09, 2007, 14:07:48 CET

Has any one heard of any swordfish caught or sighted yet this season. That's one fish l would love to catch while l'm in Malta in less than 4 weeks!!!!!

skip · July 09, 2007, 14:30:07 CET

We saw two nice ones yesterday, maybe 20kgs or so, was doing 20 knots and he jumped around 1/4 mile ahead, as I turned towards a second one jumped at maybe 1/2 mile. As I passed the area of the first i actually saw he pass alongside the boat you could his silver body flash past.

Have no idea whether stopping before and trying to troll squids would work as they tend to be very shy. Perhaps stopping and throwing bait in the area might be good and then trying to with live bait whilst stationary. Not sure what the techique should be as its not really done here.

I don't have a live baitwell on the boat, in fact I reckon virtually no one does. Occasionally watch this guy in Costa Rica I think, the hardcore fisherman who just goes to a bay throws a net over a bunch of bait fish, fills his baitwell and goes. We can't do that here, there's nothing to catch if you throw! At best you could catch some mackerel at night and then if you had a baitwell keep them alive for some night sword fishing etc.

You'll have to offer your expertise there.

ciappinu · July 09, 2007, 16:52:07 CET

Friends of mine caught a 17kg pastardella last weekend from the Filfla area.

Skip, maybe that's what you saw. Its slimmer than a sword, but otherwise looks extremely similar.

Don't be fooled that aren't any boats equipped with live bait wells! We do have some pros here catching beautiful fish, hopefully we start getting them to the forum and let them teach us a little!

Pastardella is best caught with shiny lures, but I don't know much about the technique, best times, etc..... It could be a good idea to leave a shiny lure floating on the surface behind you when you go for albies. Although I know of few people that caught swords on trolling, i know that others catch plenty on long lines, so swords are plentiful, especially on the North/North East.

skip · July 09, 2007, 20:02:11 CET

Were they trolling or stopped with , day or night? Interesting info ciappinu

twoutes · July 10, 2007, 00:40:26 CET

We have never caught a marlin that we have seen on the surface first. The ones we do hook up normally appear behind our baits and tease us for a while before they decide to take one or the other, or attach the bait aggressively first up, or nothing at all. Most times we see baits on our sounder first with distinctive signs of marlin on them (normally dense arches on the screen) and we then work the area for a while... this normally produces sighting a marlin on the surface and maybe a take. Live bait tanks are not that hard or expensive to set up. l made my first one using a 50 litre plastic container with a clear lid and a 12volt bildge pump and some hose. Cost me les than $100.00. (25lm). We do however fish strictly for marlin, and have an extra small lure out for bycatch.....Dolphine fish tuna etc.... but our main goal is to catch marlin.

twoutes · July 25, 2007, 05:17:38 CET

I have been reading some good reports of tuna sightings and captures.....has any one heard any thing about 'Sword Fish' or maybe even 'Spear Fish'.I suppose it would be getting closer to catching 'Lumpuki' now? Would't it? I would be very interested to know!!!

Alex · September 11, 2007, 18:44:14 CET

twoutes,

I am writing an article about game fishing for our local inhouse magazine. can I use some of your photos of marlin fishing? I will show you a copy of the article when it is published. Thank you

Alex

twoutes · September 12, 2007, 00:31:05 CET

No Problems at all Alex. Let me know if you need anything specific, and l'll email them direct to you. I have just recently returned home from Malta where we had a great time, met some nice people, and saw some really good sights. Can't wait to get back there.

Alex · September 12, 2007, 10:02:48 CET

Thank you, twoutes. So, any luck with swordfish or tuna in Malta? Any photos? Regret that I couldn't make it. I am changing job and it takes all my time. But I will be in Mauritius for two weeks in November and will try my luck there again!

twoutes · September 12, 2007, 10:38:01 CET

You can read all about my fishing trip in Catch Reports under 'Lumpuki Trip'. On another trip we managed to catch a small 5kg Swordfish...but dropped it at the side of the boat. Also on the last trip l saw a very small swordfish free jumping at the side of the boat, simular to marlin free jumping over here. My best catch in Malta was a 15kg Blufin Tuna which we caught when l went out with Nick.

busumark · December 21, 2007, 11:54:14 CET

see this clip. its a bit difficult to happen in malta

http://thatvideosite.com/view/1498.html

twoutes · December 21, 2007, 12:02:55 CET

THAT'S Amazing Footage. He looks like a rag doll going out the back of the boat. I have the full DVD of the event. Lucky for him he was not hurt except for some bruises.Been doing any fishing lately?

busumark · December 21, 2007, 12:39:37 CET

at this time of year i fish mainly for klamari, tumbrell and bottom fishing with long-line or handline but right now i am trying my luck for klamari.

twoutes · December 21, 2007, 13:05:53 CET

I think these are Klamari?

busumark · December 21, 2007, 13:53:03 CET

yes those are klamari. very nice ones. there are that size right now caught a few this week