Anglers Land a 638-Pound Swordfish in Florida
OutdoorHub Reporters 04.05.12
A would-be record swordfish was caught on Tuesday afternoon by anglers about 30 miles south of Marathon in the Florida Keys. The fish was weighed on a scale and certified by the International Game Fish Association (IGFA) and the state of Florida, but the fish won’t qualify for either a state or IGFA record. The organizations do not recognize fish caught on an electric reel, as this swordfish was caught. A record 612.75 pound broadbill caught off of Key Largo on May 7, 1978 continues to hold the official state record.
Still, this fish was the second swordfish that weighed more than 500 pounds to be caught off the Florida Keys in the last 10 days, according to KeysNet. This fish is believed to be the largest ever caught in Keys waters during daytime hours.
The crew who caught the fish included Katherine MacMillan, the owner of Mystique, a 61-foot Viking boat, Captian Billy Rabito Jr., and Mike Driskell. Rabito said it took roughly two hours to bring the broadbill on deck. It took additional time to get the fish onboard through the large transom tuna door. They were aided with an anchor windlass.
Reprinted with permission by KeysNet. Click here to view the full story.
