1 Rigging and Set up for Broadbill Swordfish

Leo grew up in Eden, NSW, Australia where he started game fishing with his Father and Brother. He caught numerous Yellowfin tuna, Kingfish, Marlin and some deep sea bottom fish. Leo Moved to Tasmania at 18 and caught several Southern Bluefin Tuna (SBT) with local charter operators up to 100kg. In his early 30's Leo bought his Dad's old boat and re-powered her and re-named her ChoonaChasa. He had a lot of success chasing SBT with his mates mainly tagging and releasing smaller fish (15 to 35kg ave) but still managing 1 or 2 "Jumbo"
(around 100kg) fish a season; with the boat reeling in around 150 fish total a season.

However, it was in 2013 that Leo became interested in targeting Broadbill Swordfish in Tasmania despite the general consensus being that they were very rare in Tasmania and a targeted effort would be a waste of time. After several trips during day and night Leo finally came tight on a Swordfish on 21/4/15 and landed a brilliant 146kg (321lb) specimen after a 3.5hr battle. To prove it wasn't luck Leo and crew got a 136kg fish 19 days later and then claimed the 1st ever Tasmanian record (and Australian 37kg record) with a gfaa compliant 107kg fish. They finished 2014 Tagging and releasing an estimated 170+kg fish. In 2015 the ChoonaChasa skipper and crew hooked many swordfish including on 10kg line. They lost several fish but managed to land 3 being 143kg, 188kg and a whopping 264kg (581lb) after a 6 hr fight on 24kg line for 17 YO crew member Kyle! At one stage they held 5 Australian Swordfish records and still hold several including the all tackle and 24kg class record for the 264kg as well as the all tackle and 37kg record for Porbeagle shark that was a by catch.

Leo Lives in Hobart with his wife and 2 young children and runs a Salad dressing company called Red Kellys Tasmania.