Gladiator swordfish of 1000 pounds wielding slashing bills capture the oohs and ahhs of the angling public and rightfully so. Captain Nick Stanczyk out of Bud 'N Mary's Marina in Islamorada, Florida Keys has made his mark innovating and elevating swordfishing, especially in the deepwater shelf off the Keys, and his catch rate is unparalleled. Capt. Nick was willing to share a few tips and tricks to ensure swordfish success.
"First, when swordfishing, we look for the right water; that usually means heading into the 1400 to 1800 foot depths, then dial up the gain on our Garmin 3KW Transducer to look for bait on the screen, as it can identify and read the squid schools and other types of baitfish clearly," said Stanczyk. Once the targeted area is decided upon, Stanczyk sets up 50-80 class rods and Penn Electric 80 reels spooled with 80-pound braided line and a 100-foot top shot of 200-250 pound monofilament leader to which the hook is crimped on. "The Penn 80 Electrics are standard but if anyone wants to crank and reel we set them up with the Penn 50 Electric and detach the electric drive for the battle."
Regarding the business of the bite, Stanczyk is particular about his hooks and his baits. "I use the Mustad Swordfish #7691S DeltaPoint hook for the baits in size 9/0 to 11/0, with the 10/0 being the all-around perfect size for the baits we use." Primo baits mainly include 15-inch strip baits of mahi belly or bonito belly and are cut streamlined so they flutter and undulate through the water naturally.
*The 7691S DeltaPoint hook will be available beginning in 2027*
"The most important facet of sending down a strip bait, and I can't stress this enough, is to properly secure it to the hook so it looks natural," said Capt. Nick. "For that, I take the hook point and pierce it once in the middle through the tip of the strip, then measure down to where the point comes through again to pierce it through so it lays perfectly flat and there is no bending in the stripped fillet. After I am happy with the look and symmetry, I will then fold it over to make a foldover 'taco' and take some wax floss and cross stitch through the eye of the hook to secure the bait and similarly cross stitch around the shank where the hook pierces extended and protruding down on the strip fillet." Once secured, the folded strip bait sends out motion and scent swordies cannot resist.
Put these swordfish tips in your backpocket and give a try battling gladiators on your own.
Follow Captain Nick on Instagram @captnickstanczyk
Book charters through www.budnmarys.com