June 12, 2020 – Click here to listen
Daytime sword fishing is the most complex type of fishing that I have ever done. It is incredibly difficult. Most swordfish are caught at a depth of 1500 feet or more which means here in Florida we must travel 30 miles or so offshore to reach a suitable location.
Once you locate some good habitat for them, it’s like trying to catch a fish out of a bowl from the top of the empire state building. A very large twelve-pound lead weight is used to get your bait down to the bottom where they are located during the daytime. That can take thirty-forty-five minutes or more and it’s no easy task to drop it that far in a strong current without the line, weight, and bait becoming twisted into a hopelessly tangled up mess.
Can you imagine detecting a swordfish bite from over a third of a mile away in a current of 3-4 knots? The fish will swat the bait with its bill and the tip of the rod will ever so lightly, almost imperceptibly, twitch. If you do hook one, swordfish mouths are very soft and keeping it hooked is a challenge because the hooks can easily pull out of their mouths.
But say all goes well and you get a solid hookup, a large fish must be fought for hours to get it to the surface. Landing one is an adventure as well. They have a large bill that they rapidly swing back and forth that can cut you like a razor and to land one you must use a combination of gaffs and a harpoon. Once gaffed and/or harpooned and you bring it alongside the boat you have to bring it aboard. It is problematic, (to say the least,) hoisting such a large fish (100 to well over 800 lbs.) over the side and into the boat.
I once went 8 separate occasions and failed each time to successfully get the hooked fish to the surface and in the boat. Each time I went back home with my tail tucked between my legs and took the abuse from my friends for coming home empty handed. But it only made me more determined to study what went wrong, correct it, and to try even harder to succeed the next time. Soon I was putting more in the boat than were getting away, and it was not lost on me that once you succeed, prior problems are quickly gone and forgotten and it is very gratifying and worth all of the effort.
I wanted to write about my great love of sword fishing today because it is a prime example of how to succeed when facing obstacles from every turn like we are experiencing in this country at this very moment. I’ve overcome so much in my early life including drug addiction, homelessness, childhood abuse, low self-esteem, bitterness, hate, and not to mention a criminal record.
I cannot take credit for the transformation in my life. Prior to becoming a Jesus follower, perseverance was not in my vocabulary, I was a quitter and a loser. God gave me hope and a strong determination to succeed coupled with a tenacious, “don’t quit” attitude. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr once said, “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.” Light and love come from God my friends.
Currently we are facing a myriad of problems in this country. We must stay strong and keep slugging it out. Don’t be a quitter and a loser but be a winner by continuing the fight even when it seems you are facing seemingly insurmountable obstacles. Follow the light, love each other and keep the faith in Jesus. That is a blueprint of how to fight the good fight my friends. In the end you will be victorious.
2 Timothy 4:7
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith
Have a great weekend and go to church this Sunday!