5/11/11 SWORDFISH!!!

We had Telby Turner from Texas out today on the BNM with his wife. We were in search of Broadbill Swordfish, to help knock off a species on the Royal Slam List (all the billfish). We caught a couple of dolphin on the way out to the swordgrounds and by 9 30 a.m. we were swordfishing. We missed the first bite, but were excited to know there was atleast a fish down there. The next drop, we hook up, and fight a swordfish for about 5 minutes, but then he pulls off... So I said "Third time's a charm". We start drifting with our bait down deep and we get a bite within a few minutes. It takes a few minutes to get the fish on the line, but after a few tries, we are TIGHT! After 25 minutes we have the fish 10 feet away, the Sword looks decent size, and then he takes off! He heads towards the bottom. So Telby goes to work, and after another hour, we have the fish boat side and subdue the fish. I look over the side and realize the fish is probably 200 lbs! We pull the fish in and head towards home. We hit the dock at Bud N Mary's Marina and go to the scale with the fish. Telby's sword weighed in at 209 lbs! Congrats! It was a successful swordfish charter , some real exciting Islamorada Fishing!