Record-Setting Swordfish Fly Fishing Achievement
The fishing grounds off Fort Lauderdale, Florida, are some of the most productive places in the world for swordfish fly fishing. On March 9, 2024, that’s precisely what Roy Cronacher, a Naples, Florida-based, lifelong avid angler, and an International Game Fish Association (IGFA) trustee, set out to do.
Cronacher was swordfish fly fishing aboard his 1989, fully restored 48-foot Rybovich, Gladiator, with Capt. Tim Richardson at the helm and mate Eric Leech in the cockpit.
“We fish those grounds, which are about 28 miles long, when we think the time is right. It took three seasons to dial in what was needed to run over the fish, raise the fish, and ultimately get a sword to take the fly.”
Mastering the Art of Night Swordfish Fly Fishing
Swordfish fly fishing requires patience, skill, and precise timing. Cronacher’s approach has been refined through years of experience and expert guidance.
“We always swordfish in the dark,” Cronacher explained. “My friend Jeremy Block, in Kenya, the first angler to catch a swordfish on fly on IGFA-legal tackle, recommended we do it this way. It helped. It’s how I caught five other swords on fly.”
On that memorable March night, Cronacher’s dedication to swordfish fly fishing paid off spectacularly. After raising three swords, a fourth fish came right up to the back of the boat, bit his fly, and got hooked.
The result? A new world record swordfish at 59.4 pounds on a 20-pound fly tippet, beating Jeremy’s previous record by more than four pounds.
“Imagine my surprise when Tim pops all the lights on. The next thing I knew, Eric gaffed the fish, and it was sitting on the deck.”
The Quest for 10 Royal Billfish Slams
Cronacher’s record-setting swordfish fly fishing achievement moved him closer to his ambitious personal goal of completing 10 IGFA Royal Billfish Slams on fly. This unprecedented feat requires catching all nine billfish species multiple times – a total of 90 catches.
After starting this hunt eight years ago, Cronacher had just 13 billfish remaining as of the end of 2024:
- Atlantic blue marlin
- Spearfish
- Swordfish
Notable Achievement: Cronacher is one of only four anglers who are members of the IGFA Fly Royal Billfish Slam Club, having completed this incredible achievement an unprecedented five times.
Early Foundations in Sportfishing
Getting Hooked on the Water
Cronacher’s passion began early when he caught his first fish – a blue runner – at age three off the dock at the Angler’s Club in Key Largo. His family had moved from New York to Delray Beach, Florida, when he was just one year old.
As a young angler, he walked the seawalls and cast Zara Spooks for snook and jacks, saving his allowance and money from mowing lawns to buy new tackle or fish on the Two Georges, a head boat out of Boynton Beach Inlet.
“There were 50 to 60 people fishing on the side of the rail all around the boat. It was always something when you hooked up a spinning rod to a big kingfish.”
Transition to Fly Fishing Excellence
Learning the Fly Fishing Craft
In 1990, Cronacher began billfish fly fishing at the encouragement of good friend Wayne Sandlin. Their first trip to Isla Mujeres resulted in his first billfish on fly – an Atlantic sailfish.
The learning curve for fly fishing billfish proved challenging, particularly when transitioning from sailfish to larger species like blue marlin.
Key Technique Breakthrough: Working with Capt. Jake Jordan off Costa Rica, Cronacher learned a crucial lesson about drag settings that transformed his fly fishing success rate.
“Jake grabbed my left arm, threw it behind my back, and said, ‘Now fight the fish.’ The fish didn’t break off.”
The problem had been his technique – using too light a touch on the spool when fighting marlin, causing the 20-pound tippet to break. Once corrected, he caught and released four or five blues that trip.
Conservation Leadership and Circle Hook Innovation
Pioneering Conservation Efforts
In early 2000, Cronacher began using circle hooks with conventional tackle, recognizing their conservation benefits before they became widely adopted.
Working with Capt. Corey Hexter in Mexico, they spent considerable time teaching proper circle hook rigging techniques and advocating for their mandatory use at major marinas.
Conservation Turning Point: A disturbing experience in the Bahamas, where Cronacher witnessed blue marlin being “chopped up with chainsaws for use as fertilizer,” became a defining moment in his conservation journey.
“I left my Calcutta money on the table, left the tournament, and vowed never to fish another kill tournament for billfish.”
This experience led Cronacher to successfully campaign with Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham to make the Bahamas an all-release billfish fishery.
IGFA Leadership and Global Impact
25 Years of IGFA Dedication
Cronacher became a lifetime IGFA member 25 years ago and has since climbed through the organization’s leadership ranks:
- International Representative (2002)
- IGFA Trustee (2010)
- IGFA Treasurer
- Vice Chairman
- IGFA Chairman (2021)
Under Cronacher’s leadership, alongside President Jason Schratwieser, the IGFA has undergone significant transformation, shifting from primarily being the sport’s historian and record keeper to actively promoting conservation and education.
Global Expansion: The organization has established new IGFA Regional Councils in Oceana and Africa, with six councils currently active and a seventh planned for Asia.
“The IGFA is the only recreational fishing organization accredited by the United Nations Environmental Programme. Through this accreditation, the IGFA now has a voice for the estimated 300,000,000 anglers worldwide.”
Looking Ahead: Continued Pursuit of Excellence
2025 Fishing Plans and Conservation Goals
The Gladiator team, led by Cronacher and Capt. Richardson, continues their swordfish fly fishing season, which began in early January. Their 2025 schedule includes:
March: Dominican Republic – targeting four more Atlantic blue marlin on 20- and eight-pound fly tippet
April-May: Bahamas – including the new IGFA Walker’s Cay Shootout (April 23-26), featuring 100% release format and strict IGFA angling rules
Summer: Majorca, Spain – pursuing Mediterranean spearfish on fly to complete the 10 Royal Billfish Slams goal
The Walker’s Cay tournament serves as an IGFA fundraiser for the organization’s Billfish Research and Conservation Endowment, funding research and conservation efforts in perpetuity.
Legacy of a Fishing Soul
Roy Cronacher’s impact on sportfishing extends far beyond his impressive record collection, which includes eight IGFA records across conventional tackle and fly fishing for five species caught in four countries.
His true legacy lies in uniting the sportfishing community around conservation efforts and ensuring the sport thrives for future generations.
“My good friend, Capt. Chucho Manzano once said, ‘There are those of us born to be fishing souls.’ I was born as one such soul. Sportfishing has been a dominant force in my life since I was three years old. It’s what people like me live for.”
Through his swordfish fly fishing achievements, conservation leadership, and dedication to youth education, Cronacher exemplifies how passionate anglers can make lasting positive impacts on the sport and marine resources they love.
External Resources:
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