How to Fish for Swordfish at Night

The sight of a swordfish breaking on the surface is a magnificent one, especially if it happens to have a hook from your fishing line in its mouth. These large billfish, which can run as much as 500 pounds or more, are known to be extremely fierce fighters and can take several hours to land once they take the bait. Although you can catch swordfish during the day, they are known to be night feeders. You will find them at any water depth due to the adaptability to changing water temperatures. Using the right equipment and bait can help you be successful when fishing at night for swordfish.

Things You'll Need

  • Sea anchor, optional
  • Spinning rod and reel combination
  • Monofilament line
  • Fishing hooks
  • Bait
  • Spotlight or sea lantern
  • Gaff hook
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Instructions

    • 1

      Go as much as 20 miles offshore to catch swordfish, such as to the Gulf Stream located off of the South Florida coastline. Start out an hour or two prior to sunset so that you arrive just as the sun had gone down, allowing you to cast during one of the swordfish's prime feeding periods.

    • 2

      Set your boat up to drift on the water's surface. Angle your boat so that you drift over the area where you believe the swordfish, either based on sight or by using a fish finder. Use a sea anchor to slow down the speed of your drift, if necessary.

    • 3

      Rig several heavy-duty spinning rod and reel combinations with heavy test monofilament line. Because the weight range of swordfish caught far offshore is so great -- from 75 to more than 500 pounds -- rig the reels with at least 100-pound test. Equip the line with heavy-duty hooks, such as 12/0 stainless steel hooks.

    • 4

      Add a float about 10 to 15 feet away from the baited hook to keep the bait near the surface, if you're targeting surface-dwelling swordfish. Attach a lead sinker, such as a heavy pyramid sinker, tied at least 10 feet away from your bait, to drop the line to the sea floor, if you're after bottom feeders.

    • 5

      Use live bait, such as squid, whenever possible. Hook the squid through the top of the head to keep it alive on the hook. Hook other live bait, such as google eyes and tinker mackerel, through the back just in front of the dorsal fin to allow them to swim naturally while on the end of your hook. Use dead bait or artificial lures, such as plastic squid, if live bait is not an option.

    • 6

      Keep a spotlight or sea lantern trained on the water's surface at all time. Watch your fish finder closely and monitor when it shows swordfish approaching the surface; alternatively, listen for the sound of swordfish breaking the surface. Alter the boat's drift by driving past the prime locations and allowing the boat to drift back over it. Cast your surface-baited lines in the general area where the swordfish were spotted or shown to be.

    • 7

      Allow the swordfish to run for a few seconds once you hear the line being taken as you get yourself strapped into a fighting chair. Set the hook once you are in place and begin your fight. Plan to spend up to several hours trying to land the swordfish, depending on its size and how much fight it has in it. Have one of your fellow anglers keep a light trained on your fishing line so you can see your progress.

    • 8

      Do not let the swordfish have a run at the boat, if possible, to keep it from trying to break the line. Have your fellow anglers pull in their lines away from yours so they don't get tangled. Have a friend bring the swordfish up using a gaff hook through the fish's gills once you have it close to the boat.

    • 9

      Head back to the docks just after sunrise because swordfish, like many fish, tend to feed more around sunrise and sunset.