Hi guys.been a bit slack on my posts this year as have had a project on down country .got back late march and straight into first sword trip of year day after.out to our normal spots at patch and had first bite about hour in.pretty sure was sword but dropped it after 40mins.quite disappointed as we have changed mainly to circle s this year in the hope of better hook ups.bait had gone.the boat next door had hooked up to one and they ended up doing circles in boat to they were out of sight-next time we saw them was at ramp, they had done 6.5 hrs on a pectoral fin hooked sword of about 120kgs.had another bite about 1hr later which came up tight.this fish shot straight to surface and had a look at it, sword and a keeper!at 2hr mark did a run just under surface and jumped out of water just like a dolphin at high speed.very impressed.good scrap with mean head shakes throughout.boated sword approx 110 after good tussle on leader.fish had hook in lower outside jaw not even in mouth.still had time left in day so reset gear and sure ĺenough 20 mins later another bite.tight again after some confusion if it was a circle or j hook!this fish different again with no surface action and not as big head shakes.gave this fish a bit more hurt than last one and popped up pretty dead 100m away lassooed round tail with hook not even touching the fish!approx 80kg this one.epic day out.next trip 2weeks later with another early morning bite which didnt come up tight and thought fish had got pricked and buggered off but 15 or so mins later on wind up came up tight.did all the normal sword stuff but dropped it after half hour, bugger.no more action for rest of day.next trip no action all day and bait was not as dense, heard of a couple being caught down at 505 which sounded like where action was.last trip (last sunday)had to pass up, bugger, boys went to patch again and was talking them on phone went they had a bite on first drop of lday , on the drop too.never happened to us before, just seem to read about this happening to other people! 3.5 hrs later got the call , in boat and biggest one yet.boys keen to weigh this one so wanted to be part of it so jumped in car to make it there in time. Got another call halfway there to say they were on to another one!met the guys in whangaroa with two swords in boat.went 151 and 126. First fish stayed deep and thought it was a thresher for while and proved to be a grunt match, second fish was all on surface and put on quite a display .so running at 4 from 6 this year and any further fish this year will be released if able to do so.the big sounder this year is definitly helping our obsession with catching these great fish.thanks to all the regular posters on this site , cheers bazz 0