Greater amberjack fishing

Question
I'm from Greece (north Aegean see), and I'm trying to find the right way to fish Greater amberjacks (-35 kgs  in our waters)and swordfish (-120  kgs in our waters)How do I atach 2 hooks (1 free moving) for live bait (mullet is it good enough? what size?). What line shoud I use (dacron maybe and what colour and break strainth?) fluorocarbon leaders are make a difference and what LB test? Can I use rapala style artificial and if so what colors and sizes? You see I have a long way to go and a very poor help in my places. Thank you for your time, George.  

Answer
Aloha George,
   I have never fished in the Mediterean at all, however fish have pretty much the same habits worldwide. So I do not know how deep these fish live where you are. The Amberjack is generally speaking a bottomfish. So catching them usually you need to get into deep water, around a seamount or a wreck is good. You probably need a good map and/or a depth finder or fishfinder. I usually make my first attempt by drifting, then if I get a bite or catch one, then I would anchor up.

  I fish in Hawaii where I go down anywhere between 600 feet to 1500 feet to catch the Hawaiian Red Snapper "The Onaga". I catch the Amberjacks (Kahala in Hawaiian) from 300 feet to 1500 feet also. I use as many as 10 to 15, "Triple Swivels" attached to leaders, then the hooks. spacing them apart enough so as not to tangle. I am using handline in concert with a "Fish Puller". I would recommend using at least 80 to 100 pound mainline, with 40 to 60 pound leader material. I have found that it does not really matter what type leader material you use fishing for these deep water bottomdwellers. Just as long as it is strong enough to hold the fish, but light enough to break off if hit by a shark. I use cut bait, both Squid & baitfish such as Mackeral or Large Fresh Sardines in nice size chunks. I use a Mustad Tuna Hooks, they are a bit offset, and I sometimes even bend them a bit more, so some of these fish actually hooks themselves. There are ways to get chum way down to the bottom, that helps attract fish down deep. As I mentioned above the best way to use more than one hook is to use a series of "TRIPLE SWIVELS". I would suggest trying the most heavy duty ones. Here is a site for viewing them:

http://www.fitecfishing.com/ShowPage.asp?Pg=8

PS: Another thing about the Greater Amberjack & his related cousins. For some reason in some parts of the world, the Amberjack family of fish, seem to get infested with LARGE WHITE WORMS in the MEAT of the fish. I usually cut out the big ones, and then just cook the hell out of it & it is good to eat. I am tryng to  get a research project going as to how & why this happens in some places & not others. As you might already know, parasites are quite common in most fish, but not harmful to us humans if cooked right. Tuna have them also but a much different type of worm or parasite. But don't worry about them.

As for Rapala style lures, I have always had good success with thenm & also the Mirror-Lure. But these I generally only use in much shallower water. Or sometimes if there is a school of Mackeral or even Mahi-Mahi (Dolphinfish) I will break out the heavy duty spinning rods & cast out some lures. And I mostly use them by casting & retieving them, not trolling them. Lures work well for Big Game fish by trolling them, or smaller inshore type fish by casting for them.

As to the Swordfishing, that I can not help you on very much. I never have caught one or gone specifically for them. However I do understand that using a light stick is supposed to help. I am sending you these sites:

http://www.swordfishingcentral.com/rigging.php

http://www.swordfishingcentral.com/fishing-articles/artificial-light.htm

http://www.swordfishingcentral.com/

Now the only other advice I can give you is to go down to where any commercial or sportfishing boats dock & chat it up with the "Locals" who really know whats going on. As a fisherman myself, many times people have come down to my boat & asked me questions. I am only too happy to try & help them without giving away my secret fishing spots.

Any futher questions you might have, you may feel free to E-Mail me at: [email protected]

             Randy "Onagfish" Perry
Remember: "Keep Da Bait In Da Watah, Bruddah"