Swordfish Bait Rigging: Deep Drop Setup Step by Step

Daytime swordfishing has changed what most people thought was possible from a day boat. Twenty years ago swordfish were a nighttime fishery. You drift-fished with natural baits in 1,200-2,000 feet of water after dark, waited for the bite, and prayed your electric reel could handle the haul-back. Daytime deep drop changed all of that. Swordfish are now a target for captains running 40-60 mile trips on center consoles and express boats, fishing in 1,200-2,500 feet during daylight hours with rigged baits and light sticks.

The bait rigging is the technical foundation. A poorly rigged bait at 1,800 feet that spinning on the leader, tangled with the line above it, or missing its light stick is doing nothing. Get the rigging right and you have a fighting chance.

The Three Best Swordfish Baits

Swordfish eat a wide variety of prey, but in a deep drop context with daytime fishing, three baits consistently produce.

Squid is the top daytime swordfish bait by most measures. Squid are the primary prey of swordfish throughout the water column. Use jumbo squid from 12-18 inches or large market squid. The rigging technique keeps the bait swimming correctly at depth. Fresh is better than frozen, but high-quality frozen squid from a commercial supplier is acceptable if properly thawed and firm. Mushy, degraded squid slides off the hook and loses its swimming action.

Mackerel - both bonito (little tunny) and Spanish mackerel in the 1-2 lb class - are proven daytime swordfish baits. The oily profile creates a scent trail in the deep water column that swordfish follow. Whole mackerel rigged through the lips and belly stitched closed produces better than cut sections. A 16-20 inch bonito is a legitimate swordfish bait with the right rigging. Smaller 10-12 inch Spanish mackerel work well in faster current where a smaller bait presents more naturally.

Bonito belly - the white belly flap cut from a false albacore or small bonito - is a secondary bait that produces well as a strip bait option. Cut a tapered strip 8-12 inches long, 2-3 inches wide at the head end tapering to a point. The silver skin creates flash and the fatty tissue disperses scent. Belly strips are often used as a second hook bait on squid rigs or as a substitute when whole baits are not available.

Artificial skirted baits combined with bait are used by some captains on the top hook of multi-hook rigs. An octopus skirt over a squid or mackerel head adds visual attraction and protects the bait profile.

How to Rig a Squid for Deep Drop

A properly rigged squid for daytime swordfishing does two things: it swims naturally at 1,500-2,000 feet with the mantle pointing down and the tentacles trailing, and it stays on the hook during the 20-40 minute drop and the violent strike from a sword.

Components you need:

• 16/0 or 18/0 circle hook for the primary (point) hook
• 9/0 or 10/0 hook for the bridle hook inside the mantle
• 400 lb Diamond Illusion Fluorocarbon or monofilament for the bait leader, 10-15 feet
• Rigging needle and heavy waxed thread or rigging floss
• Light stick holder attachment

Step by step:

1. Cut 4-6 inches of rigging floss and loop it through the squid's mantle at the narrow end, near the fins. This creates the bridle attachment point.

2. Pass the secondary hook through the mantle fold using the rigging needle. The hook point faces out the back of the squid. This hook holds the bait shape and prevents the mantle from collapsing or inverting on the drop.

3. Connect the primary circle hook to the bait leader using a 400 lb crimp sleeve. Use double crimp sleeves for security at these leader weights.

4. Bridle the primary hook through the squid's head behind the eyes using a separate 4-inch loop of rigging floss. The hook should be clear of the body with the gap open and the bait able to move slightly at the connection.

5. Stitch the tentacles together loosely with 2-3 passes of rigging floss to keep them from spreading during the drop.

6. Attach the light stick holder to the leader 12-18 inches above the bait. The light stick goes in the holder just before the bait enters the water.

A properly finished squid rig should hang with the mantle pointing slightly down and the tentacles trailing naturally. Hold it by the leader and check the orientation before lowering it.

How to Rig Mackerel and Bonito Belly

Whole mackerel or bonito rig:

Use a tandem hook setup for whole fish baits. The trailing hook positions in the rear quarter of the fish body, the leading hook through the head.

1. Measure and crimp a 400 lb mono or heavy fluoro leader, 10-15 feet. Crimp a 16/0-18/0 circle hook to the tag end using two double crimp sleeves stacked.

2. Pass the hook through the baitfish lower jaw and out the snout. Rotate the hook so the point faces back toward the tail.

3. Bridle-rig a secondary 9/0 hook through the back of the baitfish near the dorsal fin using rigging floss and needle. Connect this hook with 6-8 inches of 400 lb mono to the main leader above the primary hook.

4. Stitch the mouth of the baitfish closed with 2-3 passes of rigging thread to prevent it from opening and spinning on the drop.

5. Attach your light stick holder 12-18 inches above the head of the bait.

Bonito belly strip rig:

Cut the strip tapered as described above. Pass the primary hook through the skin side at the wide end twice, leaving the point exposed. No secondary hook needed for strip baits. Attach the light stick holder to the leader 12 inches above the bait.

Light Sticks and Glow Heads

At 1,500-2,500 feet, there is no ambient light. Swordfish hunt by bioluminescence patterns. Light sticks and glow heads replicate the glow of deep-sea squid and other prey items that swordfish actively hunt.

Cyalume or equivalent 6-inch light sticks in green or blue are standard. Activate the light stick by bending it to mix the chemicals, then insert it into a light stick holder on the leader. Replace every 8-10 hours as the light fades.

Position: 12-18 inches above the bait on the leader. Some captains run two light sticks - one at the bait and one 4-5 feet up the leader - for deeper fish or during periods when the bite seems sluggish. The second light stick gives more illuminated area.

Glow heads are plastic or silicone attachments that fit over the head of the bait or over the hook collar. They charge under UV or direct light before deployment and slowly release the stored glow at depth. Glow heads last longer than chemical light sticks but are dimmer. Many captains use both.

LED deep drop lights are a recent addition to the daytime sword program. Battery-powered LED units that clip to the leader above the bait. They are more expensive but much brighter and reusable. Worth having for tournament fishing or high-frequency sword trips.

Full Terminal Setup for Daytime Swordfish Deep Drop

The complete terminal rig from the main line to the bait:

Main line: 80-130 lb Diamond Braid Gen III 8X Solid on a large capacity electric reel. Daytime swordfishing requires getting down to 1,200-2,500 feet, so capacity is critical. A reel that holds 2,000+ yards is standard.

Wind-on leader: 20-30 feet of 400 lb monofilament, hollow-spliced to the main braid. The Diamond Swordfish Wind-On Leader is purpose-built for this application. The wind-on leader passes through the rod tip guides cleanly and allows you to recover the bait and lead weight by hand at the boat.

Weight: 8-24 lb of lead weight attached by a breakaway clip below the wind-on connection. In 1,500-2,000 feet with 1-2 knot current, 12-16 lb of lead is typical. Heavy current requires more weight to reach bottom. The breakaway clip releases the weight when a sword runs, preventing the weight from adding pressure during the fight.

Bait leader: 10-15 feet of 400 lb Diamond Illusion Fluorocarbon from the weight connection to the bait. Connect to the wind-on leader with a heavy ball bearing snap swivel rated at 400 lb minimum. This swivel prevents the entire bait system from twisting during current movement.

Crimping: Every connection in this rig is crimped with double crimp sleeves. No knots at these line weights. The crimping technique requires proper sleeve size matched to the line diameter and a quality crimping tool.

Drop and soak time: Lower the rig at a controlled descent rate. Some captains use 200-300 feet per minute on the electric reel until the lead approaches the target depth. Once at depth, soak 20-45 minutes before winding up to check bait condition.

For more deep water bottom fishing, see our guides on tilefish deep drop tactics and grouper ledge fishing. And if you are moving to full offshore rigging setups, the how to build a leader from scratch guide covers crimping technique and materials in detail.

Tips for Swordfish Bait Rigging

• Rig all baits at the dock before departure. Do not try to rig at sea in swell.
• Keep rigged baits in a cooler with ice and a small amount of seawater until deployment. Heat degrades bait quality fast.
• Carry double the number of rigged baits you expect to use. Bait condition fails on the drop, and you want to replace immediately.
• Check bait orientation every soak cycle. A spinning or inverted bait catches nothing.
• Replace light sticks every 8 hours regardless of apparent brightness.
• After a missed strike, replace the bait immediately. A struck bait loses its swimming action and is no longer effective.

Frequently Asked Questions

What depth do you fish daytime swordfish?

1,200-2,500 feet is the productive range for daytime swordfish in the Atlantic. The thermocline break, often at 1,000-1,500 feet, is a starting point. Many captains target 1,500-1,800 feet as their primary zone.

What hook size for swordfish?

16/0-18/0 circle hooks for the primary bait hook. Inline circle hooks penetrate the corner of the mouth cleanly. Some captains use 20/0 for very large bait presentations.

Can you use cut bait for swordfish?

Yes. Bonito belly strips and squid pieces work. Whole rigged baits produce more consistently but cut baits are useful when whole bait supply runs out. Keep cuts to at least 8-10 inches and rig them so they swim without spinning.

How much weight do you need for daytime swordfishing?

8-24 lb depending on depth and current. In light current at 1,500 feet, 12 lb is typical. Heavy current or deeper fishing may require 20+ lb to hold the bait in the target zone.

What time of day is best for daytime swordfishing?

Midmorning through early afternoon produces most daytime sword bites. The fish thermocline position shifts with light intensity. Many bites occur 10am-2pm local time.