I'm sure it is a good rod for the swords however, we don't do any daytime sword fishing. If we did I would be buying. Mostly we put baits out at night for swords on 50W reels same rod/reel combos we use for tuna trolling. That reminds me need more lights. Last season the boys had 5 swords on and boated 3 in one night. Missed that trip as I was in London watching the Vikings beat the Jets.
Just listed the Daiwa Sword blade on FB Marketplace. Price is $350 including shipping. If you know anyone looking, send them my way.
Fished July 4th. Went out to the Zigzag north of the Hudson Canyon. No life. Trolling only. Saw a gas bladder must have blown off a boat. Took a run by and a large Mahi jumped out. Took another troll by and boated that beauty 16.6 lb. Started to troll south toward the 100 Square. Then headed west toward the south east corner when we got some intel on a bite going on at the South West corner. Ran there, deployed white spreader bars and daisy chains. Boated 3 Yellowfin in the 35 lb range. Getting late so bougie on to the barn. The key here was switching to trolled small white stuff. Should of known that since last weeks tuna and this weeks tuna were spitting out small squids when caught.
Leaving Friday night for the Hudson. Just got a pair of 36" wide trackers from Chatter Lures and a Glow Crazy Scatter Chain. Hope to simulate those small squid and sand eels these tuna are on.,
Well we switched it up and ran to the South Bound shipping lanes in the Separation zone 12 miles out. Got great intel the Giants were there. Lines in at 5:30AM. Got hammered at 5:50AM. Cleared lines and began the fight. Put a new by in the harness. When close to the boat fish snapped the top of the Akuna pole off including 2 guides. Because we are in an IGFA tournament no harpoon allowed. I stuck a gaff in it and after a little confusion we finally got a tail rope on it. Measured 72” 218.5 lb. Ran straight in to weigh it then onto the dock to chill and chop fish. The steaks are big as a dinner plate. Back in the barn at 8:00AM. We drank a shitload of beer. As to the tournament with today and tomorrow left we are in first place.
Believe or not it hit a white paddle tail rigged with a half ounce chin weight and a 3 oz Blue White Joe Shute. We had Ballys out too. All the way the fuck back. Hit the rubber one but my buddy boated a 79” day before same setup.
Consider putting them on YouTube, then linking to them here. I'm pretty sure your vids will get plenty of views (Me being one of them)
Ha that's great. My buddies always give me shit for wanting to just pull plastic. 2 weeks ago I had a sail take a swipe at an Al Gags eel tail on a chugger hhead What size paddle tail, 8" ?(I made a small dredge of these... it definitely works)
Ran to Triple Wrecks yesterday. Bumpy ride. Left inlet at 2:55 lines in at 6:20AM. 6:23AM Mr Mako paid a visit. Real pretty 100 or so pounder. Good release and saved the tungsten jig head too! Back on the troll 4 rods go off as we got covered up in rat sized Bluefin Tuna that bit spreader bars and daisy chains. After clearing that mess up moved further East to get away from the youngsters and started to boat Yellowfin Tuna. 2 doubles and 1 single. Bite shut down after that and South wind picked up. Decided to run to Little Italy and put out the Giant Tuna rigs for another go at them but no love. A fleet of Cow Nosed Rays were passed on the way home. Seas got shitty and almost swamped coming in inlet. Good day!
Fished my clubs Ocean Fluke Tournament today. 20 boats only 6 keepers. We started at 7:30 and got back at 2:30PM. About 100 shorts on our boat and 2 keeps a 22.5" was 4.5 LBs so we won. Much beer was consumed. Good fun with some old friend's but fluking just plain sucks. Was confined to Sea Girt Reef and Axcel Carlson area.
A lot of work for such a small bag limit for sure. That's why I stopped fluking years back when they went larger on the size and smaller on the haul. If I'm inshore bottomfishing and a fluke happens to hit the line? great! Targeting fluke? Not the kid. Waiting for this Monsoon season to pass so I can get some bonito for my Canyon Tile trip next month and my Pulley Ridge trip in Oct.