At the top of this leader, you’ll want to crimp a Caribbean or three-way barrel swivel, which is different from a regular three-way swivel. It’s basically two large barrel swivels attached together. It does a great job of allowing each swivel, the main swivel attached to the leader and the secondary or rotating swivel holding the weight, to work independently and reduce twists and tangled lines.

Williams' typical rig.

The main line is connected to the upper part of the primary swivel, and the light is attached via split ring to the bottom of the primary swivel. On bottom of the light is a small loop, where you can attach your dropper weight with a pair of rubber bands. Next, the leader is crimped to the secondary barrel swivel (at a 90-degree angle in the photo), and is allowed to rotate freely. This is important to prevent tangling—as the weight descends, the main line is held straight and your bait floats down and around, not twisting the main line. When the fight turns on, the rubber bands will often allow the weight to release so that 2 to 10 pounds of lead isn’t aiding the fish in pulling the hooks or causing tangles.

On the end of the leader, you’ll want to attach an offset J-hook, which is appropriate, since Williams’ boat is named J-Hook. After trying circles and livebait hooks of all types, the offset J-hook or longline hook has proven to be the most effective. Make sure you match the hook size to your bait.

Lights, camera, swordfish. Swordfish present the unique challenge of being nocturnal predators. So deepwater lights like Lindgren-Pittman, blue, green or combination lights and Duralite strobes are used and attached to the top of the leader. There is some debate over whether the lights attract baitfish and then the swords or if they simply help the sword find the bait you’re using. Either explanation is acceptable, as long as the fish finds your bait. Sometimes the leader will come back in and be frayed around the light, where the sword has billed the light before eating the bait.

To help attract fresh baitfish to the boat, a Hydroglow (hydroglow.com) light is deployed boatside. This tubular, green light is submerged, so that all the light is underwater and spreads out in an even pattern. It draws in fresh flyingfish, squid and hardtails among other fish, which can be scooped up with a dipnet or caught on bait rods for the ultimate in fresh bait.

BAIT

Williams likes to use squid as primary bait, which may not come as a shock, but he does add a little something to the mix. He dyes the squid with deep red/purple dye, so that when they are in the water, they look like a natural squid does when it’s all lit up. “We’ll buy a flat of squid and hand pick the best baits, ones that aren’t torn, and then dye them. Then we pack four or five, flat to a gallon-size Ziploc bag and freeze them.” Fresh, live squid are always better but this bait is guaranteed, while catching bait offshore is not. Other baits that work include flyingfish, northern and Spanish mackerel, hardtails and mullet.

To rig the squid, make a small incision at the tail. Feed the hook through the tail and down through the body of the squid and out through the opening, careful not to tear or puncture the bait. The hook should be anchored in the head of the squid, between the eyes. Straighten out the bait and sew the tail of the squid to the leader with copper rigging wire. Williams likes to place a sliding crimp 8 to 10 inches above the hook, which acts as an anchor for the rigging wire and can be adjusted for the size of your baits.

LANDING/TNR

Surprisingly, swordfish are generally cooperative alongside the boat. “You’ll need to be easy when wiring these fish, they do have soft mouths,” explained Williams. And make sure you have heavy leather gloves or even better, Kevlar gloves for billing this fish.

Don’t mistake their early run by the boat as an opportunity to try and gaff this fish. “Like a mako, they sometimes want to take a look at what’s got them before really fighting,” Williams said, with a look to suggest he’s tangled with green swordfish in the past.

It’s important to remember that to keep a swordfish, the regulations require a minimum of 47 inches from the lower jaw to tail fork. (Limit is 1 per person or 3 per vessel) and you’ll also need a HMS or Highly Migratory Species permit for the boat you’re fishing on. All landed fish must be reported to NOAA within 24 hours at (800) 894-5528.

Swords are usually great tag-and-release candidates but if you do take one home, you’re in for excellent tablefare. Fresh swordfish won’t taste anything like your garden variety restaurant sword. The firm, flaky flesh of this fish makes an awesome grill candidate and I like to cook mine over a wood fire, adding a little smoke flavor to it. The leftovers also make excellent swordfish salad.

If you get a chance to experience the thrill of a lifetime by catching a swordfish, you’ll never forget the first time you set your sights on this fish as it almost looks through you with its huge, penetrating eyes. They are a beautiful fish and a viable fishery along the Gulf Coast.

FS