Kenya’s Broadbill fishing is rated as some of the finest in the world.  Although most are young fish we have managed to bring some very respectable sized fish to the boat.  For those of you that have caught Marlin and Sailfish it is time to try your hand at these sword-wielding gladiators of the deep. The method of catching Broadbill by trolling luminous and fluorescent lures in conjunction with a cylume lightstick has proved itself not only practical and successful but also very exciting.

Even though most of the Broadbill are small they can put up an enormous fight.  The Broadbill has a powerful body, two very broad keels and a massive tail and they are always well proportioned.  It is undeniably one of the strongest and most tenacious fish in the ocean and its nocturnal foraging adds a mysterious dimension to hunting these animals.  Patience and skill are the two requisites for a successful catch and provide memories and thrills of a lifetime.

Broadbill are not uncommon in these waters and on previous trips in The Pemba Channel, trolling luminous lures or giant squid rigged with cylume sticks, we have had up to 15 strikes a night with very good results.  Our largest broadie from the Pemba Channel weighed in at the Club is 116.5kg, caught in a November, which is a Kenya record on 37kg line and is a Kenya All Tackle record.
Season – Broadbill are present throughout both fishing seasons, but we recommend you try October, November and March when we have calm nights and calm water.  December, before the wind goes round to the north-east, can also be an excellent time for Broadbill fishing.  Broadbill feed on tuna and other pelagic fish so that means good Broadbill fishing in the tuna season, but trips will depend on sea conditions.

We usually leave the Mooring around about 4.30 in the afternoon, after a late lunch.  We fish in the conventional way until night fall.  In the meantime we prepare our baits and lures for the night fish.  Broadbill fishing is always fascinating and exciting because one is fishing in the dark under the wonderful clear African skies full of galaxies and shooting stars.  Trolling with luminous lures, cylume light sticks and giant squid has revolutionised fishing for Broadbill and long gone are the nights of drifting and bobbing up and down on the ocean waiting for things to happen.   The trolling method produces more strikes as more ground is covered.  Action can be fast and furious with multiple hook-ups being quite a common occurrence.  These fish can strike at any time once the sun has set.  We have had strikes as early at 1900 hrs and as late as 0500 hrs.

Known as the gladiator of the sea, the Broadbill Swordfish is immensely strong and powerful, as one of our clients once discovered.  On one of our overnight expeditions the rod and reel attached to the downrigger bucked and screamed into life with a strike from what was almost certainly a Broadbill.  The strike at 0430 was on a 37 kg outfit with an 80 TW reel.  The fish virtually spooled the reel before it was brought under control and after 3 hours the fish uprooted the fighting chair making it even more difficult for the angler to deal with the fish!  Eventually, after a battle lasting 4 hours and 30 minutes, with two of the fisherman’s colleagues holding down the fighting chair, the 117 kg Kenya Record Broadbill was finally brought to the boat and landed.  To date this is still the largest Broadbill landed and ratified under IGFA regulations in Kenya.