Swordfish tournament conclusion is near

With just six days remaining, there are likely quite a few boats out in the Atlantic - somewhere near or close by the Norfolk Canyon.

This year’s 6th annual edition of the Oceans East Swordfish Tournament was a record-setter before the first boat hit the water.

There are 88 boats and a $146,000 total payout now sitting as the new standards.

Boats are allowed to enter a total of only three outings during the month-long competition.

And like playing cards in Las Vegas or a taking a cane pole and worms on a simple trip to the pond, this event is somewhat of a crap shoot.

“It can be a gamble and has been,” said director Zach Bowles. “That’s what makes it fun.

“You’ve got the weather and other things that prevent teams from going out. So when you get conditions like the last few days, everybody is trying to get their last day or two in.”

The tournament provides anglers a nice alternative to other events held throughout the fishing season in that few have given the species a try.

And that’s too bad, as numbers or the bottom-loving members of the billfish family have been consistently on the rise. Catch numbers appear to validate that, but some of it could be that more anglers are targeting swords.

“It’s a different frame of mind,” Bowles said. “You go out there today and there’s likely to be a bunch of boats with bobbers out. Things like pool noodles … it doesn’t matter.”

Anglers basically get bait on the bottom with the help of heavy weights. They then have to deal with the angst of watching the rod tip bounce around as the fish plays with the goods before taking them.

There is an extra division for small boats and teams can weigh in as many three swords together. Tilefish also have a division, a good decision since both species tend to roam the bottom in similar spaces.

It doesn’t hurt that both fish - as well as others you might catch while targeting them - are a couple of the best-tasting critters of the sea you can eat.

Electric reels are allowed, but Bowles said more fish are caught by anglers cranking by hand.

There is a 100-mile radius where teams are allowed to fish. Weigh-in stations are in Chincoteague on the Eastern Shore, in Oregon Inlet and at the Virginia Beach Fishing Center.

“This is going to be the final showdown,” Bowles said of the last few days. “Fish numbers have been good and it’s just been a gamble as to whether you can get out or not.

“But the bottom line is that there are a bunch of different ways to catch these fish and they don’t know what kind of boat or angler is fishing for them. It’s going to be a lot of fun.”