Gaffing fish - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

taggermike · 04-13-2011, 08:24 AM

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 · 04-13-2011, 09:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by taggermike

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 · 04-13-2011, 09:47 AM

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.

04-13-2011, 08:24 AM	#1
taggermike Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Chula Vista Posts: 1,589	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

04-13-2011, 09:47 AM	#3
flydigital Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 192	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.