Whether you’re a first-time angler or you’ve been fishing your entire life, choosing the right fishing line for swordfish can be tricky. With so many different types of fishing line on the market, it can be hard to know which one will work best for you. In this blog post, we’ll explain the different types of fishing line and help you choose the right one for your next swordfish outing. Let’s get started!
Choose Right Fishing Line For Swordfish
When choosing a fishing line for swordfish, you need to pay attention to the following issues:
1. What’s the best fishing line for swordfish?
Today there are a number of excellent, strong, and invisible 100% fluorocarbon lines on the market that have been designed to cover a wide range of saltwater species. It is very difficult, if not impossible to say what would be the ‘best’ one for swordfish angling. The second question would be whether the angler is fishing with natural or artificial bait. A 100% fluorocarbon line that is strong enough to pull in a 500lb (225kg) giant fish, will often be difficult for a smaller person to handle, particularly if combined with a stiff rod and high drag.
Strongly consider going up one or two-line class sizes above what you would use for other saltwater species, or to the next higher test strength if using a 12-strand line. A 10-12lb (4.5-5.4kg) swordfish is still a very powerful fish and will require strong gear and line even if it isn’t near the maximum size for the species.
2. How do I choose the right line test strength?
Ideally, you need to compare your drag setting and rod specifications with that of your supplier to determine what line test will be best for you. SSI recommends that swordfish anglers use either 8lb (4kg) or 10lb (4.5kg) lines.
3. Is a braided line better than monofilament for swordfishing?
This question can be answered very simply – No, a braided line is not preferable to a good quality monofilament one. The main difference between the two types of lines for anglers is that braid has very low stretch and thin diameter, which allows you to pull in a fish very quickly. However, this low stretch factor can be a major problem. If the line were to break when a swordfish is charging at full speed towards you or your boat there is little time for the angler to react and allow the reel’s drag system to do its job.
4. What about using wire lines?
Wire lines are sometimes suggested as an option for swordfish anglers, although they are not recommended because the saltwater has a corrosive effect on these wires causing them to weaken after a relatively short period of time. They are also dangerous to handle because of their sharp ends and should never be used with braided lines. An angler with a wire and braid combination would be faced with the very real possibility of their line breaking during a run and then having extremely sharp ends to contend with as well as losing any fish that might happen to get tangled up in the wire loops. WIre lines can also cut fingers badly, particularly if wet, and should not be handled under any circumstances.
5. What about using a wire leader with the braided line?
While some anglers feel that the advantages of the braid as a fishing line outweigh those of mono, there is little doubt that a wire leader will improve your chances on a swordfish trip. The reduced stretch of the braid combined with the increased strength of the wire will allow you to turn a larger fish.
6. What are the disadvantages of using lighter line tests?
The main disadvantage is getting less feel for the fish during the fight, particularly if it happens to change direction suddenly or make fast runs towards or away from you or your boat. The angler needs time to react if this happens and no line gives better feedback than mono. The thinner diameter of the braid also means that it sinks at a much faster rate than mono which can be an advantage when fishing natural baits on the surface but is more difficult when trolling with lures (although you will still get further).
Conclusion
The fishing line for catching swordfish should be strong, durable, and abrasion-resistant. It must also have a low stretch factor to make it easier to reel in the fish quickly. With these requirements in mind, you can choose from many different types of lines available at your local sporting goods store or online retailer. If you are unsure about which type of line is best suited for this particular catch, ask an expert or read customer reviews before making your purchase decision.