BY CAPTAIN MIKE BAXTER
SAN DIEGO – This quest for a swordfish on a private boat has consumed me for over five years, and our collective appetite was only whetted by hooking three swords during this period without bringing one to the boat. One would think the anecdote is to catch a swordfish, and while that may help some, most confess it only increases their temperature on the ‘fever.’
After years of effort for both me and on fishing partner, Jason Young, we have put in hours and hours over many fall days during the past few years attempting to hook and land the elusive Broadbill Swordfish. While having our share of bites, baits whacked by the sword and only with few hooked and lost fish, the challenge started to feel impossible. Although I have resided in Santa Cruz for decades, my pelagic roots are in San Diego. Starting at 19 years of age, I worked the decks on San Diego long-range boats on the Royal Star and Royal Polaris on trips up to 23 days. After earning my 100-ton Master’s License, I started running charter boats at 21 years of age out of Santa Cruz for ‘Shamrock Charters;’ eventually running the well-known Wild Wave, a 70-foot sport fisher with a capacity of 49 passengers. Although I have spent much of my youth and adult life chasing pelagic species along with hunting down trophy steelhead in the Pacific Northwest, nothing compares to the quest for the mighty swordfish.
Our quest took Jason and I to a recent extended weekend out of Mission Bay in San Diego, and we were out in separate boats due to a scheduling conflict. We agreed to fish close to each other as Jason had lost a sword the week before after a 5-hour battle. It is possible to land a swordfish solo, but the more hands-on deck the better. While fishing a bank west of Mission Bay, Jason hailed ‘My buoy is down,’ and as swordfisherman knows, this usually means a fish that has taken the bait knows something is wrong and is headed straight to the surface to gain oxygen, warm water, and try to shake the hook.
Zach Wormhoudt was out with me, and he and agreed to drop me off on Jason’s boat to assist. This was a huge fish, and Jason needed a break at the reel, so I took over while he grabbed the wheel and flying gaff, taking in water and deep breaths. The weight was taken off the leader, and the big sword cruised to the boat laying one side as to eyeball its offenders. The fish then sounded to 600 feet, shook its head, and would take line one minute and head to the boat the next. The technique that helped was to keep the reel in high speed as the erratic nature of these fish doesn’t allow the comfort of low gear. The other key was to be ready to take the rod from the gunwale rod holder when it got close as the fish would head for the propellers and the other side of the boat. This battle required mental and physical strength in addition to rod and reel agility. After 90 minutes and 15 pounds of drag, the fish was brought just close enough for Jason to reach his 10-foot flying gaff into the fish. Another gaff was then lodged and the tail rope secured before the team got out the block and tackle to get the beast aboard.
The phrase, ‘It takes a tribe,’ is to say the least as we had great tutelage from Bill DePriest, Melton’s Tackle helped with gear, and Dana Landing was a great spot to fuel, food and to ice up. Dana Landing also has a boom and helps to operate it for the Mission Bay Marlin Club, and result of our lengthy quest was weighed in there at 322 pounds.
After five years, hours of preparing and enduring through a huge learning curve, our quest was finally over, but it may feel as a curse to catch ‘Purple Fever,’ as we can’t wait to get back out and do it once again. The swordfish season should last into the New Year, and if anything, I have learned from this extended experience – Persistence pays off.
