Long Island Sportsman, July 1979
First Swordfish
Tred Barta, holder of the IFGA certified world record for yellowfin tuna on 6-pound line, (October, 1978 issue-Long Island Sportsman) landed the New York area’s first 1979 Summer Fall gamefishing season’s swordfish. It also was the first swordfish Barta has brought to gaff in over 5 years of concerted effort.
Barta, using 50-pound test line and a 15-inch double hooked swordfish squid, landed a 202 pound swordfish in 1,500 fathoms about 120 nautical miles southeast of Shinnecock Inlet, and approximately 30 nautical miles south of the Continental Shelf on June 9, 1979. Hookup came at about 7:30PM. The fight, from hookup to gaff, took four hours, 30 minutes.
Barta reported baiting four swordfish on top before putting one in the boat. He attributes the loss of the four to three things: bad luck, ‘swordfish fever’ and poor judgment.
“The classic goof was one of judgment on my part. I was undercrewed. The crew consisted of my father, Joe Barta and me. This is inexcusable. I know better. There should have been three aboard-ideally a crew of four. It won’t happen again. Making a successful swordfish catch is extremely difficult. Being undercrewed compounds the problem.” (Barta’s catch was made with an Altenkirch rod and Penn International reel spooked with Cortland Micron line).
Aside from being Barta’s first swordfish, and the first of the season’s swordfish catch, the 202 pounder is added proof that New York gamefishing grounds rank among the world’s finest.
Barta’s gone on record that some of the world’s best fishing is within 150 miles of the Statue of Liberty. The Continental Shelf and the Hudson Canyon are within this radius. It should be noted that his world record yellowfin tuna was caught within this 150 mile radius of the Statue of Liberty.
“When it comes to gamefishing, the blue waters around New York have no equal. And, it’s a fact that some of the world’s best charter boat captains fish these waters regularly, and are available throughout the season. The best way to experience this blue water gamefishing is to come out and get your line wet.” Barta concluded.