San Diego angler Luc Ofield, owner of Anglers Choice Tackle Store, recently reeled in a colossal 666.2-pound swordfish off the California coast, breaking the previous state record by more than 100 pounds. After a challenging four-hour battle with a stand-up rod and reel, the record-breaking catch was finally weighed at the Marlin Club in Shelter Island just before midnight. The impressive swordfish season catch came shortly after another notable haul of a 492-pound swordfish near San Diego earlier in October.
Swordfish season typically peaks from late spring to early fall when warm waters draw these giants closer to the shore, making San Diego’s nine-mile bank and nearby islands popular spots for swordfishing. North Pacific swordfish, the species native to the West Coast, are among the ocean’s fastest predators, capable of reaching speeds of 50 miles per hour and growing up to 14 feet in length.
Though swordfish can weigh well over 1,000 pounds, NOAA states that most swordfish catches average between 50 and 200 pounds, with Ofield’s recent record a rare find for California anglers. This swordfish triumph continues a long tradition of remarkable catches off Southern California’s coast, as enthusiasts hope to secure their own record-breaking catches.
Image/Source: fox5sandiego
