CHILE 



ing about it except to follow the regular procedure. On the 

 other hand, if he starts thresliing about on the surface or 

 flinging his sword around, gun the boat ahead and strike im- 

 mediately—because this is a sure sign that he has felt the hook 

 and is trying to get rid of it. If a fish gets off, race the bait to 

 the boat and leave it in the water at least fifteen minutes with 

 boat stopped. You may be surprised at what happens. 



When searching for swordfish, particularly off Chile and 

 Peru, it is wise to pay close attention to the actions of the 

 birds— for where there are birds there are usually swordfish. 

 The fish betray their presence by a distinctive odor— some- 

 thing between a fishy and a briny smell. Sometimes you may 

 find fish floating on the surface that have been killed or 

 stunned by the swordfish, or you may run across a breakfast 

 or lunch that some stomach rejected. Other telltale signs can 

 be found in the water at times when the fish has surfaced 

 and then sounded. An oily patch is left from which the same 

 distinctive odor emanates. 



A good swordfisherman can almost instinctively tell when 

 he is on the fishing grounds. Keep a sharp lookout for cur- 

 rent and tide rips. The color and temperature of the water 

 are very important. If you sight any schools of bait fish sur- 

 facing, cruise over and circle them— although you will be 

 more likely to raise a marlin in these circumstances than a 

 broadbill. If it is a broadbill the chances of getting a strike 

 from him will be very slim. 



In all my swordfishing career and all the places I have 

 fished I have almost invariably found that the fish surface 

 best from io:oo a.m. to 4:00 p.m., 9:00 o'clock in the morn- 

 ing and 5:00 o'clock in the afternoon being the absolute 



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