Fresh squiddies to use for Sword drops seem to be the best bait, but I came across these and wanted to see if anyone has any experience with them: http://www.fishusa.com/tackleshop/catalog_product.asp?ProductFamilyID=%7BC802456F%2DD649%2D4D9B%2D8C3C%2D49099EA9BC12%7D&i=D148F38F148C45CFA02418CE55C1BB1E
Those swords are just oversized catfish Ragman. Ya gots to find where they are eating and then try different baits. Squid, hardtails, tinker macs, mullets all make the list of sword baits. I am sure that those could work. Besides, you don't have to worry about them tangling themselves.
A friend of mine caught a 195# sword on 4 month old mackeral he had in the freezer. You never know, but live squid is the way to go if they are available in the slick.