One of the most talked-about and sought-after large pelagic fish is the Swordfish. People from all around the world travel to locations where they have a hope to look into this prized gamefish. In article one, we looked at how to identify the best time for swordfishing as well as looking at some different types of tackle and rods that are best suited for the job.
In this article, we will look at a few different types of baits and why they are considered good swordfish bait. We will also discuss how to rig these baits when chasing these magnificent fish. Plus I’ll go through a list of some other options that you could try if your main baits aren’t working on the day.
How To Choose Bait For Swordfish
The main baits for swordfish are Bonito, Spanish Mackerel, Skipjack Tuna and Blue Marlin. However, there are some other baits that you could use too to try your luck with these gamefish. These include Albacore Tuna, Yellowfin Tuna, Wahoo and even Mahi Mahi. These baits are not as common as the first four, but there is still a chance that you could find them feeding around your boat when swordfishing.
The Bonito, Skipjack Tuna or any other type of mackerel or tuna can be used to catch Swordfish. When rigging this bait, make sure you use a big hook and put some weight on it so you can get it down deep to where the fish are feeding.
The best type of bait for swordfish is the Skipjack Tuna or other types of tuna such as Bonito. The reason why these fish work well as swordfishing baits is that they mimic baby squid, which swordfish feed on.
When using these baits, make sure to use a big hook and some weight because they will try their best to swim away from the boat when you are fighting them. So you need to get your hooks in as quick as possible or it could end up taking all day to land that swordfish!
The Marlin family is another type of bait that can be tried when swordfishing. The difference with these baits is the way they are rigged, so make sure you check out the video below to see how I do it when chasing Marlin.
The reason why these baits work well when swordfishing is that they resemble small fish swimming in the water column. This is what swordfish often look for when they are feeding on their prey.
One of the best baits to catch these fish on is the Blue or Striped Marlin. These fish are used because they resemble small tuna or mackerel swimming in the water column, which swordfish love to eat!
Best Baits For Night Time Swordfishing
Night-time fishing for swordfish is the most challenging kind of swordfishing there is. If you can get your bait to where the fish are, that’s half the battle. That’s why I like to carry different types of baits for this type of fishing
1. Dead Squid
Swordfishermen will often use dead squid as their bait of choice. Squid can be found inside almost any swordfish, and it is commonly believed that smaller species work better than larger ones when trying to catch this fish at night time because they have a quicker metabolism which means less energy spent catching food vs searching for them morel. Most people prefer using shorter lengths (9 – 14 inches) but there’s no rule against catching bigger breeds in certain areas like New England or The MidWest; so if you happen upon an opportunity where your destination allows both sizes then go ahead!
2. Tinker Mackerel
The tinker mackerel can be both a dead fish or alive. It is considered the perfect bait for swordfish because of its often-found presence near these creatures’ habitats, making it an excellent choice when fishing in waters where they live.
3. Live Blue Runner
When trying to catch a swordfish at night, try using blue runners as bait. These fast-moving fish are one of the most productive for this time period and can often be found near docks where you would land your boat after fishing during daybreak hours. Having some live baits on hand will increase the luck factor significantly!
4. Bullet Bonita
The bullet size Bonita can make excellent night time swordfish baits and are great for trolling small lures on your way out to the grounds. However, these fish need constant movement so it may be hard to keep them alive in an old-fashioned live well with water moving around inside like many people do today?
5. Artificial Stuffed Squid
Artificial squid is becoming increasingly popular for swordfish at night because they provide many advantages over natural ones. For example, it’s possible to reuse an artificial (it won’t get slashed open or washed out) and you can stuff them with reel stuff, also there is no waiting time while fishing before the next day when all your gear has dried out from being wet!
Conclusion
It is important to bait the hook correctly for a successful catch. The perfect bait for swordfish is a combination of mackerel and squid. These two ingredients are typically found on the Gulf Coast, so be sure to have these on hand if you’re fishing there! Our team of experts is always happy to help with any questions or concerns about this process so feel free to contact us anytime!