Gaff, Landing Net, Lip Gripper
 

I'm new at this. Are all three necessary?

I only sport the gaff

Depends on what you're fishing for.

Yellows, wsb, etc. you'll need a gaff.

Lip grippers are great for toothy fish like halibut or lings that are too small to gaff.

For bass and rockish just lip 'em with your thumb.

Personally I don't like dealing with nets on the yak, but I believe the DFG regs require that you carry one.

I'm new, but for me yes... Gaff was first thing I purchased.. Grip lipper 2nd..landing net I don't see the need but have one.. Once I'm comfortable I probably won't lipper ..

Yea I only carry the net because it is required. You do not absolutely have to have the other two but the gaff will sure make it easier to land anything over two feet in length. Generally you can either lip bass with your hand or swing them into your lap to land. Other species such as halibut and yellowtail will make you miserable:linesnap: if you don't have a gaff to sink into them.

Gaff. I will probably buy the Boga grips soon

Gaff for big fish, grippers for things like ling and sculpin. Never had a net

I carry all three.

I think a landing net is required by law.

Thanks for all the info. I'm off to buy a gaff. Hope I get to pull in a big Hali.

A net is required By DFG. It's about a $200.00 ticket if they site you.
28.65(d) No gaff hook shall be used to take or assist in landing any finfish shorter than the minimum size limit. For the purpose of this section a gaff hook is any hook with or without a handle used to assist in landing fish or to take fish in such a manner that the fish does not take the hook voluntarily in its mouth. No person shall take finfish from any boat or other floating device in ocean waters without having a landing net in possession or available for immediate use to assist in landing undersize fish of species having minimum size limits; the opening of any such landing net shall be not less than eighteen inches in diameter.
It's always nice to have a gaff with you.


Ken
Team Dana Point Jet Ski

A word of advice; a 18" net minimum net opening is required on all fishing boats or floating vessels fishing saltwater according to DFG regs. (Primarily for the safe landing & release of "short" or out of season game fish.)
Personally I carry a gaff, boga grips & ARC DEHOOKER (for toothy critters) along with a net.

DFW: 28.65(d) page 43

https://nrm.dfg.ca.gov/FileHandler.a...cumentID=42130

One thing I'll add to that is that the term Landing Net has still I believe not been fully defined by the DFG. It's like it used to be with hoopnets where almost any size netting with a hoop used to be a legal hoopnet, any net with a twenty inch opening legally constitutes a landing net.

I just looked it up and this is what the DFG said about it a while back.

According to Lt. Todd Tognazzini:

"a landing net has a minimum diameter of 18 inches and no maximum diameter. There is no specific legal definition of a landing net. The only difference between a landing net and a dip net is mesh size, but there is no legal requirement on mesh size either. As long as it is only being used as a landing net, it would be legal."

So if you have an old landing net, or even a hoopnet, and you can take the riged frame parts (the ring and handle) off of it just leaving a net bag that is easy to store, and it still meets the legal requirement.

Personally I carry a Gaff, a Gripper, and a Net Bag which I also use game bag for storing fish like divers do. The advantage of the bag is it stores below deck, and it really does make a good fish bag :D.

So I use a gaff in saltwater, a gripper in freshwater, and honestly I just use my net for storing my catch.

Jim

i ALWAYS carry my gaff with me (even when i know i wont catch any big fish). and i also carry a 10" fillet knife along with 3 other misc knives. no gripper and no net.

re: reference previous post on this subject. If I remember correctly someone took the time to quote chapter and verse specifically the DFG regulation last year. I remember looking it up and as soon as confirmed I went out and bought a 20" PROMAR net.
FFY