How Do You Do Yours?

[jorluivil]

Since the fishing is still slow he's another topic that we can discuss :D


How exactly do you fight your fish?

First and foremost I clear my other rods by getting any lines that are in the water completely out of the water or at least make sure that it's at the surface. I prefer to fight and land my fish on my right side so if the rod on the left was hit I will raise the line on the rod that is on the right and place it on the opposite side.

If the hooked fish takes a massive run I will pedal towards it, adjust my direction using one of the two rudder controls that I have, reel, pedal, adjust, reel, pedal, pedal, reel, pedal, etc. The entire time I am looking at the direction of my line, if its horizontal I know that the fish is still ahead of me so I will continue to pedal until the line is vertical.

Once the fish is near the surface and getting to within gaffing range I will grab my gaff, pedal and attempt to adjust the fish so that its moving/swimming parallel to my kayak and in the same direction, of course. Once it's in range I will gaff the fish, get it slightly out of the water and clip.



What's your style?

[alanw]

I've always wondered about using a game clip on a fish that has been gaffed but not yet landed on the boat...


28.65. GENERAL. Except as provided in this article, fin fish may be taken only on hook and line or by hand.
28.65 (d) states when a gaff can not be used, so it is assumed a gaff can be used otherwise to take fish.
28.95 states when a spear or harpoon can be used, so it is assumed they cannot be used otherwise to take fish.

There is no exception to Take (kill) a fish using a "Fish Billy" to club it, or using a knife to stab or to cut gills, although these methods are generally used after a fish is landed. All I could find on the subject is http://californiaoutdoorsqas.com/tag/halibut/ which seems to be only an opinion that these two methods are legal.

Similarly, there is no exception for use of a game clip to Take a fish although it seems common among kayak anglers here, but there aren't any special rules that apply to kayak fishing. Using a game clip to secure your catch after it has been taken (landed, killed) isn't an issue. The issue is using it as part of actually taking a fish, when there is no exception for it or anything like its use.

I know everyone that does this will argue that it's legal, but what part of the code makes it legal?

[King Saba]

Pretty much do the same thing except I like to fish on my left side. It's just more comfortable, and I don't have to rotate my torso so much.

[PapaDave]

Pretty much the same, except on the left side and I don't try to chase it down. I've found the if the fish takes off to the side I raise the rudder and hold the pole straight out to the front of the kayak so the fish will turn the kayak towards it. I find this to be easier than trying to steer.

[jruiz]

Overhanded and with the other hand I do a blooming flower motion....oh you mean fighting a fish. Pretty much the same but the preference is to my left side, but I move the fish to the right side when I see color. Gaff, game clip, stringer, unhook, bleed, club, and sometimes I brain the fish.

[Denis_Ruso]

Now that you mention it, landing fish in a hobie sounds way easier.

I usually have to tire the fish out:reel:, until its doing circles on the left side, bring it to about a foot below the water, keep tension on the line, loosen the drag a tad bit, grab my gaff with my left hand and pull the fish within 6"-0" of the surface and sink the gaff directly into its eyeball.

[steveooo]

I like to take at least 3 wild swings at the fish with the gaff before actually sticking them. I feel its more sporting that way. Then, I like to almost stab myself in the foot with a knife while trying to brain them.

:cool:

<iframe src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/9870931" width="640" height="480" frameborder="0" webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen allowfullscreen></iframe>

[Iceman]

I never clear the lines, I thrive on chaos :D this usually culminates into that other line draping over the line just ahead of the tip top as I wait for it get sucked in and wound onto the reel..........but so far that has never happened.

Always fight the fish on the left side and gaff with the left hand. Choke up on the rod with the right to get fish in range. YT I always try to lead em in a circle and stick em as they come from under the boat, head shot or the gill area, maybe belly if in a panic......same for the rare opportunity to stick a tuna. WSB, easy gaff usually belly to not put a big hole in the prime meat. halibut in the shoulder to hopefully stun them.

[Iceman]

LOL :D that vid cracked me up. Sometimes that fish's destiny is preordained to become dinner no matter what. :luxhello:

[FullFlavorPike]

Fish on the left, gaff in the right hand so it's easier to pull him right into the boat and pin him down in a figure four like Ric Flair.

[GregAndrew]

Steve, that video is a classic depiction of why you should use your dominant hand to gaff the fish. Any hand is capable of pushing the rod away (to get the fish close). But few have the hand/eye coordination required to make a precise gaff shot with their off hand.

I prefer to not gaff hard, as that is likely to make the fish freak out. I target softer areas on most of my keepers. That allows me to make a short firm pull and not bounce the fish on the gaff.

[ful-rac]

Fish on right, Gaff on right for me.

[kirkdavis]

I plan on bringing the fish up on my left so I can use my left to gaff it because I am left handed. I lean to the right though, so that should keep me in balance. That being said, I am still waiting for a gaff-worthy fish to sacrifice himself to my hook.

[Harry Hill]

so far I haven't had to gaff any of the mackerel that come to my boat, I carry the gaff just because it looks so cool sticking up next to my bait tank. I don't even know what side it's on most of the time.

[FullFlavorPike]

so far I haven't had to gaff any of the mackerel that come to my boat, I carry the gaff just because it looks so cool sticking up next to my bait tank. I don't even know what side it's on most of the time.

It's nice to have something really pointy in the boat for when you roll during landings, too, I find... :farmer:

[Harry Hill]

It's nice to have something really pointy in the boat for when you roll during landings, too, I find... :farmer:

speaking of rolling. If everything is attached to a leash does it cause problems getting tangled with rods and the likes when you flip your yak?

[FullFlavorPike]

speaking of rolling. If everything is attached to a leash does it cause problems getting tangled with rods and the likes when you flip your yak?

Wouldn't know. I put the small and pokey stuff inside the hull.

Better tangled than lost, I guess.

[2-Stix]

I close my eyes and wing it. Right side, left side, inside or outside. That monkey and footballs thing. Wide open!

[MITCHELL]

With a level wind i like my fish on my right....fishing pole in my left hand, wind with my right hand,gaff with my right hand.3ft or longer gaff you don't have to reach....

[jorluivil]

WOW STEVOOO.........WOW

[FISH11]

After the initial run and making sure the circle hook is set, I will put the rod handle under one of my legs and against the side of the deck to reel in any other line that is in the water. After getting the other bait or jig to the deck then I grab the rod again and continue the fight to regain line. I usually start on the left side and keep it on that side until it's to color. Some times the larger fish will change direction and some of the fight is on either side. I always prefer bringing it close on the right side and letting it circle until I can get it close enough to gaff it in the gill area. Then pull it onto my lap. Once on my lap I put the game clip on, remove the gaff and start to cut some gills to start the bleeding out, while dunking the head in the water and holding the game clip with my right hand and the tail with my left hand. Dammm it's been a while, way too long. Congrats to DRIFTWOOD for getting one today and reminding us of what we have been missing.

[taggermike]

Thru reading articles, watching videos, and personal experience I've developed a style that I've never seen any body use.
Max lifting power from a fishing rod is with the butt section of the rod perpendicular to the fish. If the fish is way out at 3:00 o'clock the rod should at 12:00. If the fish is straight under the boat 6:00, the rod is at 3:00. Our YT about always end up at 6:00.

I also have a narrow yak so keeping stability is important. Best way to stabilize any boat is to keep a low center of gravity. Also putting down ward force near the bow rather than mid ship helps a great deal.

So cut to the chase. When I get a YT straight up n down I lay my left foot on the gunnel and lay the rod across it. If the bow of the yak is 12 the rod is around 10-11. The rod butt is under my butt or right thigh. Basically as low as the rod can be.

I try not to pump and just let the recoil of the rod do all the lifting. About all I'm doing is turning the handle. The fish never gets a chance to rest and slack never ends up in the line. Further, since part of the rod is under water if the fish dives to the right I don't have to lift the rod around the bow. The fish just pulls the boat back over it self.

My center of gravity is low, down ward force is near the bow, and maximum force is on the fish. To gaff I lift the rod with my left arm, which already on the rod, and gaff with the right. I run my bait rods in the left rod holder, fight on the left, and gaff on the left.

This got longer and more involved than I planned. Hope it helped. Maybe I should just make a video. Mike