Broadbill swordfish
A night predator
Drift fishing overnight
Broadbill Swordfish
Kenya and the Pemba Channel are without a doubt amongst the top Hot Spots in the world for catching broadbill swordfish. The broadbill is prolific in the Pemba Channel and with up to 17 or more strikes a night your chances of catching one are very high. Very few places in the world can boast such fantastic swordfish fishing as Kenya can.
Night fishing
Although broadbill have been seen finning on the surface up to 225-kg. during the daytime, they have never been caught during daylight hours in the Pemba Channel. But, by fishing at night you have a very good chance of landing one. We leave harbour in the late afternoon taking a packed dinner with us plus plenty of coffee and drinks returning to base during the early hours of the morning for a full English breakfast.
Technique
The traditional method is by drifting with fresh calamari as bait, or there is the new technique of trolling for broadbill with artificials a method that was born in these waters and becoming increasingly popular. Strike rates have been very high in recent years so why not give it a try ? With the average size fairly small they are ideal for light tackle and fly fishing enthusiasts alike. The broadbill is an exceptionally strong fighter, stronger than a marlin pound for pound. The local record stands at 116.5 kg. So, although many are small there are some big fish and one angler in mid March 2000 was nearly spooled on a Shimano Tiagra 50W full of 50-lb. line.
Broadbill fishing season
Broadbill may well be available in the Pemba Channel year round and they have been taken in the local nets even during June.
The months of October, November and March are ideal with the sea generally calmer during these months, but September and December are good too. In the Pemba Channel the best strike rates to date have been during October and March. Enquire here ...
Where to fish
If you take a trip to the seamount 55 miles off shore (min. of 2 boats) one night is spent night fishing for broadbill on the mountain. Incidentally broadbill swordfish have been taken on virtually every trip we have made to the seamount. Why not try one of our COMBO trips or even an EXTENDED COMBO that combine day fishing with night fishing. If your holiday time is limited in this way you can increase your time out on the water and your chances of recording a grand slam. The Combo trip combines one full day fishing with a night and the extended combo adds another day for 25 and 33 hours of non-stop fishing, respectively. Enquire here ...
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