Gaffing fish

[Jimmyz123]

O.K. I know the key to the gaffing of a fish is to get the fish gaffed so it won't break off. Does anyone besides me aim for the head to avoid belly gaffing a fish?

I see deckhands on the charter boats belly gaffing YFT, Albies, DODOs, and whatever else they are catching. It always makes me wonder if anyone is trying to teach those guys the right way to gaff a fish. Am I just being picky or do you guys also focus on where you gaff.

[dorado50]

Place your gaff wherever you want to get your fish aboard. I do not gaff fish wherever there is any edible meat. Any place two inches behind the gills is out for me.Not a good idea to aim for gill plate cause the gaff will probably bounce off.Go for the soft meat around the gills. I used to aim for the eye (on advise from a mentor)and had pretty good results then. After awhile you will be able to familiarize yourself with where the soft places to gaff a fish are. A good gaff shot is the same as making a birdy putt to finish off the round. You go away happy....

[old_rookie]

http://www.bigwatersedge.com/bwevb/showthread.php?t=4278&highlight=gaff

Be sure to watch the video. Not sure if that video has only one technique shown, but he has a video with three techniques.

[Jimmyz123]

I have to sharpen my gaff a little before I go out, I'll do that this weekend, but I'm doing that with the feeling that I'll be gaffing something big here soon.

[mtnbykr2]

gaffing the feesh is a very important part, in the grand scheme of things,
the pressure is on at that point, a swing and a miss could result in your
din din swimming away, I feel it is 2x the pressure when gaffing someone elses fish...like a PB halibut, on a yak...hopefully those gaffs are sharp and ready to dig when the time comes.
I hope everyone here has to use it this weekend...or the next time out on the water...:luxhello:

[deepdvr]

One suggestion Jimmy, when you get your chance, hold the gaff between you and the fish with the hook pointed away from you. I see guys all the time try to gaff the fish from the far side with the hook pointed back at the yak and its pretty comical....until the fish breaks off. :doh:

[jdemoss]

Depending on what I'm fishing for I use one of two different gaffs. I have a traditional hook gaff. But I find that more and more I am growing fond of using my spear gaff when I'm fishing for pelagic fish. Its a take off on the Hawaiian "Kage" spear gaff that the island kayak fishermen use. It allows me to pinpoint the head for spike placement and does two things..it stuns the fish and allows me more leverage as I throw them into the boat. I made mine from a cut down hickory hoe or shovel handle and a 7/8" SS threaded rod. I drilled a hole into the handle and epoxied the rod into the hole about 8-10". I then cut off the spike to about 8-10" and ground it sharp on my grinder. Attach a lanyard/leash or a float and you're set. The threads hold the fish after you spear it and like I said above, it allows you to strike the head, stunning the fish. I find they fight less and I have an easier time hauling them into the boat. :viking:

[lbsurf2ca]

I don't even know why I own a gaff anymore. I suck :confused:

[bus kid]

Depending on what I'm fishing for I use one of two different gaffs. I have a traditional hook gaff. But I find that more and more I am growing fond of using my spear gaff when I'm fishing for pelagic fish. Its a take off on the Hawaiian "Kage" spear gaff that the island kayak fishermen use. It allows me to pinpoint the head for spike placement and does two things..it stuns the fish and allows me more leverage as I throw them into the boat. I made mine from a cut down hickory hoe or shovel handle and a 7/8" SS threaded rod. I drilled a hole into the handle and epoxied the rod into the hole about 8-10". I then cut off the spike to about 8-10" and ground it sharp on my grinder. Attach a lanyard/leash or a float and you're set. The threads hold the fish after you spear it and like I said above, it allows you to strike the head, stunning the fish. I find they fight less and I have an easier time hauling them into the boat. :viking:


First welcome, second there is a thread called "share your innovations"
take the time to photograph your spear gaff and do a short write up, (or copy and paste this post) and post it there, as I'm sure a few others would like to see it. I have a short gaff and have been considering making a spear gaff like you have described.

[Jimmyz123]

One suggestion Jimmy, when you get your chance, hold the gaff between you and the fish with the hook pointed away from you. I see guys all the time try to gaff the fish from the far side with the hook pointed back at the yak and its pretty comical....until the fish breaks off. :doh:

So if I read your post correctly are you saying that you kind swing up and away from yourself?

[Lets_Fish]

Here is a link on what the Hawaiian "Kage" spear gaff looks like (at least from this link I found).

http://www.kayakfishingmagazine.net/kayak-forum/saltwater-kayak-fishing/735-yakhawaii-kayak-fishing-the-big-island-of-hawaii.html?limit=15&start=15

[deepdvr]

So if I read your post correctly are you saying that you kind swing up and away from yourself?

Pretty much....but its more or less just straight up.

[dsafety]

The Spear Gaff sounds interesting. I would like to see some our more seasoned guys give it a try before considering to jump on board, however. Who is going to be the beta tester?

If this device works, someone could turn making these into a nice little cottage business. Material cost $8 plus a little labor, retail, $24.99.

Bob

[wade]

your adreneline WILL be pumping, take a second to compose yourself and not swing wildly..
you could unbutton a hook quite easily..
(I have had a few fly lined surface yellows hooks fall out of the hard roof of a yellows mouths once finially decked..)


not perfect... but...
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or make em do a lap around the yak, and grab em by their motor
(gaff-less).

Good Luck Jimmy! :reeling::jig::yt:

[taggermike]

Different fish require different gaffing shots I have found. Since I haven't yet caught a damn wsb I'll leave them out. YT come to the boat tired and are fairly easy to gaff. I like the under the the fish shot because if you do miss you're less likely to snag your line. For the YT I like to aim around or in front of the pelvic fins. That area between the pelvic fins and gills holds well and when you pull in to the YT is spins them over on thier backs. I have no proof but that seams to disorient them a bit. Halibut are the worst fish to gaff I have ever encountered. They're not tired and always seam to be waiting for a chance to freak the hell out. I got some hali gaffing advice from Capt. Ron Baker, who I think has gaffed more flatties over the years than all of us put together. He said he hits the small to medium sizes right in the gutts. He believes it sort of paralyzes them and ruins no meat. When he gaffs a bigger model he aims for the shoulder. It tears some meat but is the best holding area if they do start to freak. So far these techniques have worked for me on halis from 5 to 37Lbs. I do have to say there are better shot than others but the ones that get the fish in the boat are best. Mike

[sterling]

Mike is right on with the Hali shot to the guts. I gaffed a 7# model from my kayak. I was really nervous about it anticipating the freak out. I hit him in the guts, (completly by accident). The bugger didn't make another move. I bled the gills and clipped him up. While paddling back in he did kick a few times and that was it.

[Siebler]

The best way to gaff fish is actually going to be with the hook point down, reach the gaff over the fish and just pull it in. It doesnt take a huge wound up jerk to get the fish on the gaff and there really is NO reason to miss a fish on the kayak, you are 2 feet away from it. If you work the gaff as I just said you wont miss.

Also dont reach for the fish, just get it to circle back to you until you can reach easily. When you reach you miss or you hurt yourself (my shoulder is proof of this from decking on tuna boats),

For YT and WSB (along with tuna and such) a head shot is great. For halis a gut shot will help calm them, Dorado a collar shot is best as the head is too hard and the other areas the flesh tears easily.

Just as Mike said about the Capt Rons techniques, This guy has dealt with more fish than most of us will ever dream of. I was lucky to learn most of what I know working for him.

[Jimmyz123]

Here is a link on what the Hawaiian "Kage" spear gaff looks like (at least from this link I found).

http://www.kayakfishingmagazine.net/kayak-forum/saltwater-kayak-fishing/735-yakhawaii-kayak-fishing-the-big-island-of-hawaii.html?limit=15&start=15

http://www.kayakfishingmagazine.net/kayak-forum/saltwater-kayak-fishing/735-yakhawaii-kayak-fishing-the-big-island-of-hawaii.html?defaultmenu=402

Here's a link to someone actually using this thing. Looks pretty nice, but I can see some issues with it just like a regular gaff.

[Riskey Water]

Instead of a Hawaiian Kage has anyone thought of using a pole spear with a single flopper on it .I have used this freediving for halis but never thought of it for yak fishing ,might be the next evolution of landing yak fish ,will give it a go and post later .till next time ,Fish Hard

[Siebler]

If you guys are missing fish with a regular gaff I cant wait to see videos trying to hit them with a spear :ahhhhh:

[Jimmyz123]

I'm with you on that. As I was watching him pinpoint his strike I was like, I could of had that thing gaffed and in the boat already. I think I'll stay with the old Gaff style.

[Siebler]

On fish like Wahoo I could see using the spear as it helps keep the head and teeth of the fish away from you however on something like a YT you dont need to worry about that. Just sink the gaff into the top of the head and call it a day.

[GregAndrew]

I would agree that on a boat, where you have to get the fish completely out of the water and over the rail, a belly gaff on a big Halibut may not be the right choice. For yak fishing though, since all we need to do is control the fish, I recommend a belly gaff at any size California Halibut. They pretty much go limp except for their bite reflex (which I found out the hard way), and stay that way until you remove the gaff and lower them into the water. Not sure if this holds true for smaller fish or if you are trying to beat them senseless while on the gaff. I use a Boga type gripper on anything under 8# and only pop a gill for better bleeding on fish I intend to keep (but be prepared for some thrashing if you do this).

On that Hawaiian thing, does it matter if you use metric or standard rod? And what if the rod is standard and the fish is metric?:biggrinjester:

[T Bone]

One of the WSB I caught last year was all wrapped in kelp and came up vertical and stopped a few feet short of the surface.I spazzed,reached real far and gaffed the loin,above the lateral line.I ruined a few good steaks...

[WahooUSMA]

If you guys are missing fish with a regular gaff I cant wait to see videos trying to hit them with a spear :ahhhhh:

LMFAO - X-2!

[T Bone]

Dont gaff Threshers either.

[mtnbykr2]

Dont gaff Threshers either.
Question...I haven't kept any yet, however, I know I will one of these days, do you carry a seperate rope, or something to drag them in, or do you Mgeyver it in...?:reel::bigear:

[Siebler]

Dont gaff Threshers either.

yeah not on a kayak, it takes 2 gaffs to control even little ones. And dont get tail smacked either, Been tehre done that a few times while decking.

[WahooUSMA]

http://www.bigwatersedge.com/bwevb/showthread.php?t=9306

Andy's video...classic and funny as hell!

[Jimmyz123]

http://www.bigwatersedge.com/bwevb/showthread.php?t=9306

Andy's video...classic and funny as hell!

X2 on that one.

[NavyKayakGuy]

Are kages, or landing spears legal to use in CA? Guys in HI use them on everything. After seeing a kage build along on the aquahunters site, I've been wanting to make one, but wasn't sure if I was allowed to use it in these waters.

[taggermike]

That Kage gaff looks interesting but The fact that you are hitting the fish fairly hard away from you might be a disadvantage. I can't say as I have never used one though. Just a thought. I noticed the original question was about deck hands. Those guys are usually very good with a gaff. That said those 15' gaffs a not super easy to use. Lots of anglers lift the fishes head out of the water making the gaff shot extreamly difficult. Also gaffing a fish while 5 other people are calling for the gaff sort of makes placement a secondary issue. It's not a great attitude but the deck hands are out every day gaffing fish. It might be your first or biggest fish but to them it's just one of hundred of fish they will gaff. The first party boat trip I ever worked was a day and a half tuna trip. We put 140 albis on the boat before noon. There were only 10 anglers on the trip and most of the time they were all hooked at once. My morning was help a guy, tie a knot, hook and hand, tie another knot, throw some chum, get 4 guys untangled in the corner, throw chum, sprint for the gaff, nail 3 albis in about 20 seconds, bleed fish, put fish in ice hold, repeat. I tried my best for head shots but after 50 or so fish I just didn't give an F. Sorry to ramble. If you're on a party but just ask the deck hand to aim for the head, they will usually comply. Mike

[Jimmyz123]

The first party boat trip I ever worked was a day and a half tuna trip. We put 140 albis on the boat before noon. There were only 10 anglers on the trip and most of the time they were all hooked at once. My morning was help a guy, tie a knot, hook and hand, tie another knot, throw some chum, get 4 guys untangled in the corner, throw chum, sprint for the gaff, nail 3 albis in about 20 seconds, bleed fish, put fish in ice hold, repeat. I tried my best for head shots but after 50 or so fish I just didn't give an F. Sorry to ramble. If you're on a party but just ask the deck hand to aim for the head, they will usually comply. Mike

How many people tipped you at the end of the day? I feel that tipping the deckhands is a must. Back when I worked at Fisherman's Supply Center in Chula Vista a guy told me that if you tip a guy at the beginning of a trip that guy will usually take care of you the entire trip, and that did pay off. I'm not saying that this should be everyone's practice, but it paid off for me.

I'm sure that the hands are doing the best they can with the boat moving, people not cooperating, and all that fun stuff. Good reply man.

[flydigital]

Dang all good advice here, I'll only add that I think the most important thing is to get it right the first time, so take your time and setup for the good shot without rushing it... and if you do fail, be ready for the fish to run... so keep the drag loose and the gaff out of the way of the line at all costs. The ones I've lost (its been a while now) seem to all have been from the hook or shaft touching the line and unhooking the fish.

[Bigmarv]

Hey follow Anglers, This is the easiest and safest way to make an Hawaiian Kage. Buy a gaff with a 316 grade stainless steel hook. Make sure that the hook has a 5/16 diameter or greater. Borrow a mallet, (steel/copper) pipe, and a piece of 2 by 4 from a buddy. Well, you know the rest. Good Luck FYI, You must only use 316 grade stainless steel (For health reasons)