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20WestPalmBeachFishingClubSwordsThatShooktheWorldRecreationalCshingforbroadbillswordCshoffsoutheastFloridawasessentiallynon-existentthrough-outmuchofthe20thcentury.WhileimpressivecatchesweremadeinotherlocalesinthePaciCcandinthewesternnorthAtlanticoffNovaScotiaandNewEnglandsuccessfullytargetingswordsoffsouthFloridawasbasicallyunheardofthatisuntilonememorableJulyeveningoffMiamiin1976.x1cThesewerethetwoCshthatshookthean-glingworldx1drecalledlongtimeWPBFCmemberCapt.BouncerSmithofMiami.x1cUpuntilthesetwoCshwerecaughttherewasnorecreationalswordCshCsheryinourareajustasmallcommercialCsherycomprisedofatightknitgroupofexiledCubanCshermen.x1dBouncerrecentlydonatedapicturefortheWPBFCarchivesofanglersJesseWebbalsoalongtimeWPBFCmemberandJerryWebbJessex19scousinwiththeirgroundbreakingswordCshcatch.Jessex19sCshweighed388.5lbs.andJerryx19stippedthescalesatapproximately350lbs.TheanglerswereCshingaboardtheSeaBootsIIwithCapt.MikeCareyandmateBillHarrison.AsthestorygoesJesselearnedofanincidentalswordCshlandingfromaMiamihead-boatthatwasapotentialrecordinSouthFloridaMetropolitanFishingTourna-mentMET.JessewasaMETboardmemberandwasassignedtoverifytheunusualcatch.x1cItseemedinterestingtomethatnobodyelsehadcaughtonesoIstartedcallingaroundandwaseventu-allyreferredtoafewbiologistsoneinCapeCodandoneonLongIsland.TheygavemesomeveryusefulinformationonswordCshbehaviorandfeedinghabits.SoIstartednosingaroundinMiamiandthatx19swhenIdecidedweshouldtrytogoandcatchonex1drecalledJesseWebbwhorecentlycelebratedhis91stbirthdayandcallshimselfx1cTheluckiestmanalive.x1dOnJesseandJerryx19sCrstattempttheygotstrippedon50lb.classtackle.Theyupgradedto80lb.classtackleontheirnexttryandlandedthetwoCshpictured.Theywerebackatthedockbyabout230a.m.x1cIremembertelephoningsomeonetocomedowntotheCshhousetoweighourCshandtheythoughtIhadgonecrazyforcallingtheminthemiddleofthenightwithsuchanunbelievableCshstoryx1dsaidJesse.Assooftenoccursintheanglingworldnewsofthecatchspreadquickly.Soonrecreationalanglerswerelandingswordswithregularity.SwordCshtournamentstookrootinMiamiandFt.Lauderdale.CommerciallonglineDeetssomefromasfarawayasJapanfollowed.Withininseveralyearsx19biologicalwarningsignssuchasa50percentreductionintheaverageweightofCshlandedanddecliningcatchratesbegantorevealtrouble.Bythemid-1980x19stherobustCsherythatJesseandJerrydiscoveredhaddramaticallydeclined.FortunatelythroughstrictinternationalandfederalregulationstheswordCshCsh-eryhasreboundedtothepointwheretheyarenolongerconsideredoverCshed.HowevertheimportanceoftheFloridaStraitsasaswordCshnurserygroundandvastlyimprovedanglinggearandtechniquesrequiresresourcemanagerstoremainvigilant.FornowasustainablerecreationalandcommercialbuoyCsheryappearstobeinplaceandanyonewhogoessearchingforswordCshoffsoutheastFloridathesedayscanthankJesseJerryWebbforleadingtheway.JerrylJesserWebbReportYourSwordfishLandingsAnglersareremindedtoreportallnon-tournamentlandingsofNorthAtlanticswordCshincludingthoselandedonacharterheadboattoNOAAFisheriesonlineatwww.hmspermits.govorbycalling1-800-894-5528within24hoursofthelanding.Report-ingyourcatchplaysanimportantroleinmaintainingcurrentswordCshquotasfortheUnitedStates.