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

steveooo · 12-21-2008, 04:00 PM

With so many new members on the board lately, I think it would be beneficial to go over the proper etiquette for gaffing a fish. Gaffing a fish is not just a way of securing your prize; it is an age-old tradition that has been going on for centuries. Every sport has its traditions that are included in each event. While not exactly necessary, the roots of these traditions are as important to the sports as any other aspect. Some examples of these traditions are: boxers touching gloves, the seventh inning stretch, and the pseudo-attempts at gaffing. The proper and most polite way to gaff a fish is to take three wild swings at it before actually gaffing it. The first three swings are mostly tradition, and they are mainly used to make the fish feel like it has a “sporting” chance. It is generally accepted that on the fourth attempt, you can actually gaff the fish, but some chose to take more attempts. Hopefully this bit of history provides some insight to new and old members, so that you can more fully enjoy this sport that we all love so much.

On a side note, I went out of Dana yesterday. Weather was lovely.

I caught 3 fish in about 10 minutes, and did not get a bite for the next three hours.

Thanks Steve (Forefrazier) for the OTW shot.

14 Lbs

5 lbs. Thick, But Too Short

The Calico that though it was a Halibut

The video

jimbo · 12-21-2008, 04:10 PM

lmao.
great vid footage of gaf shot w/ overhead angle.
first time i gaffed a butt on a yak it was a little green and almost pulled me over the side.

T Bone · 12-21-2008, 04:12 PM

Excellent work! Well deserved after all the time you have put in there lately.That video is fantastic!

I am surprised he didnt come unbuttoned after gaff attempt 2...

I am getting back out there soon

I have to get a new battery for my BT first.mine only goes a few hours now and used to go 2 days.

bellcon · 12-21-2008, 04:16 PM

Love the video
not often you will 4 chances at gaffing a butt

way to eventually pull it off !!

Iceman · 12-21-2008, 04:59 PM

I was waiting for you to miss "braining" it and stab your leg...........good stuff

Nice Fox news chopper footage

steveooo · 12-21-2008, 05:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Iceman

I was waiting for you to miss "braining" it and stab your leg

Ha! Its hard to tell, but I was using the butt end of the knife, but I do not doubt my ability to stab myself. It never really went nuts when I got it on board- Probably because it had bled out from being poked like a pin cushion so many times

steamroll · 12-21-2008, 05:38 PM

Awesome video Stevoooo. Thanks for the history lesson also

Dennis · 12-21-2008, 06:03 PM

MY FRICKIN' FOOT!! I was thinking the same thing Andy. I also thought that was a port-a-potty vent tube

.. Until I saw the video.

Nice work brother! Show us how it's done.

forefrazier · 12-21-2008, 07:18 PM

Wow...the overhead angle really does your story more justice than the OTW angle I had at a distance. Brave man for posting the full version and not just the "Director's Cut"

Way to go on bringing home some Christmas Dinner

and nice fishing with you.

yakrider · 12-21-2008, 07:28 PM

love that camera angle...

as for the gaffing

I was waiting for the narration to begin with Maxwell Smart saying...
"Missed it by that much"

good god man...the suspense was killing me....
glad you won in the end!!!!!

THE DARKHORSE · 12-21-2008, 07:56 PM

I know what I'm getting you for Christmas, a sharpening file and steel-toe shoes

.

jscott · 12-21-2008, 09:43 PM

Great story and sense of humor! Loved the vid...

Been there, done that!

dgax65 · 12-21-2008, 09:56 PM

Not to worry. The first couple of gaff shots are just to tenderize the meat.

Handymansd · 12-22-2008, 06:52 AM

Thanks for the great laugh, and awesome sense of humor Steve! I would never have admitted that sequence in public!

And as before, I think you may have a bright future in Kayak fishing videography! We should get you hooked up (no pun intended) with Big Water Jon and get some cool video of you two on the BIG fish!

Congrats Brother!

esdees · 12-22-2008, 07:45 AM

That was a good idea putting the camera up high like that. Congrats on the hali!

Billy V · 12-22-2008, 08:53 AM

I was waiting for the "Spear It" technique to show up.

Good Job on the Hali.
-------------------
Is that a New Adventure you are sporting ? It looks well equipped.

Zed · 12-22-2008, 12:54 PM

Meat!

Matt · 12-22-2008, 02:49 PM

Well you sure can't doubt your hook placement being awesome!!

Nice job Steveooooo

steveooo · 12-22-2008, 03:52 PM

In defense of my equipment, my gaff is still extremely sharp (probably from non-use).
Here is the gaff

Here is the handle of the knife that I used to “gently” calm my fish. It is soft and comfy rubber. Maybe not the best tool for the job. I probably should invest in a little Louisville Slugger .

How I ever land a fish is a mystery to me. Dumb luck is my biggest tool OTW. In my defense, this was only my second legal halibut, and the first I have ever gaffed. It turns out that they have very boney noggins, and an even harder gill plate. In my mind, I wanted a head-shot to save the meat. Next time I’ll just jump in the water and wrestle the damn thing. That’ll be the best video yet….

Geoffkoop · 12-22-2008, 03:57 PM

Nice work. That video is sweet! I have sat out there 3 hours without a bite too

.

12-21-2008, 04:00 PM	#1
steveooo Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 1,922	Gaffing Ettiquette With so many new members on the board lately, I think it would be beneficial to go over the proper etiquette for gaffing a fish. Gaffing a fish is not just a way of securing your prize; it is an age-old tradition that has been going on for centuries. Every sport has its traditions that are included in each event. While not exactly necessary, the roots of these traditions are as important to the sports as any other aspect. Some examples of these traditions are: boxers touching gloves, the seventh inning stretch, and the pseudo-attempts at gaffing. The proper and most polite way to gaff a fish is to take three wild swings at it before actually gaffing it. The first three swings are mostly tradition, and they are mainly used to make the fish feel like it has a “sporting” chance. It is generally accepted that on the fourth attempt, you can actually gaff the fish, but some chose to take more attempts. Hopefully this bit of history provides some insight to new and old members, so that you can more fully enjoy this sport that we all love so much. On a side note, I went out of Dana yesterday. Weather was lovely. I caught 3 fish in about 10 minutes, and did not get a bite for the next three hours. Thanks Steve (Forefrazier) for the OTW shot. 14 Lbs 5 lbs. Thick, But Too Short The Calico that though it was a Halibut The video

12-21-2008, 04:10 PM	#2
jimbo Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: san diego Posts: 97	gaf shot lmao. great vid footage of gaf shot w/ overhead angle. first time i gaffed a butt on a yak it was a little green and almost pulled me over the side. __________________ that's why they call it fishing

12-21-2008, 04:12 PM	#3
T Bone Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Redlands CA Posts: 871	Excellent work! Well deserved after all the time you have put in there lately.That video is fantastic! I am surprised he didnt come unbuttoned after gaff attempt 2... I am getting back out there soon I have to get a new battery for my BT first.mine only goes a few hours now and used to go 2 days. __________________ Barachit Baralah,Elohim-In the beginning,God-Genesis 1:1 "Who among you,if your son asked for a fish would give them a serpent " Jesus Matt. 7:10

12-21-2008, 04:59 PM	#5
Iceman Administrator Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: 1-2 miles off the point Posts: 6,948	I was waiting for you to miss "braining" it and stab your leg...........good stuff Nice Fox news chopper footage __________________

12-21-2008, 05:38 PM	#7
steamroll Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 385	Awesome video Stevoooo. Thanks for the history lesson also __________________

12-21-2008, 04:16 PM	#4
bellcon Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: San Pedro Posts: 999	Love the video not often you will 4 chances at gaffing a butt way to eventually pull it off !!

12-21-2008, 06:03 PM	#8
Dennis Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: South of La Jolla... Posts: 1,193	MY FRICKIN' FOOT!! I was thinking the same thing Andy. I also thought that was a port-a-potty vent tube .. Until I saw the video. Nice work brother! Show us how it's done. __________________ Hmmmm.....

12-21-2008, 07:18 PM	#9
forefrazier Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: OC Posts: 397	Wow...the overhead angle really does your story more justice than the OTW angle I had at a distance. Brave man for posting the full version and not just the "Director's Cut" Way to go on bringing home some Christmas Dinner and nice fishing with you.

12-21-2008, 07:28 PM	#10
yakrider Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 611	love that camera angle... as for the gaffing I was waiting for the narration to begin with Maxwell Smart saying... "Missed it by that much" good god man...the suspense was killing me.... glad you won in the end!!!!!

12-21-2008, 07:56 PM	#11
THE DARKHORSE Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Seven minutes from the launch! Posts: 987	Awesome video! I know what I'm getting you for Christmas, a sharpening file and steel-toe shoes . __________________ Last edited by THE DARKHORSE; 12-21-2008 at 09:39 PM.

12-21-2008, 09:43 PM	#12
jscott Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 138	Great story and sense of humor! Loved the vid... Been there, done that!

12-21-2008, 09:56 PM	#13
dgax65 Guerro Grande Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 629	Not to worry. The first couple of gaff shots are just to tenderize the meat. __________________ Douglas Gaxiola Team No Fish- Amateur Staff

12-22-2008, 06:52 AM	#14
Handymansd Ancient Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: On The Water Posts: 935	Thanks for the great laugh, and awesome sense of humor Steve! I would never have admitted that sequence in public! And as before, I think you may have a bright future in Kayak fishing videography! We should get you hooked up (no pun intended) with Big Water Jon and get some cool video of you two on the BIG fish! Congrats Brother! __________________ All men are equal before fish. -Herbert Hoover

12-22-2008, 07:45 AM	#15
esdees The Good Clone Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Clairemont Posts: 520	That was a good idea putting the camera up high like that. Congrats on the hali!

12-22-2008, 08:53 AM	#16
Billy V Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Bay Ho Posts: 1,382	I was waiting for the "Spear It" technique to show up. Good Job on the Hali. ------------------- Is that a New Adventure you are sporting ? It looks well equipped. Last edited by Billy V; 12-22-2008 at 01:56 PM.

12-22-2008, 12:54 PM	#17
Zed BANNED Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: W of 5 Posts: 1,265	Meat!

12-22-2008, 02:49 PM	#18
Matt Support your local pangas Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Lj Posts: 976	Well you sure can't doubt your hook placement being awesome!! Nice job Steveooooo __________________ Thanks Matt F.

12-22-2008, 03:52 PM	#19
steveooo Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 1,922	In defense of my equipment, my gaff is still extremely sharp (probably from non-use). Here is the gaff Here is the handle of the knife that I used to “gently” calm my fish. It is soft and comfy rubber. Maybe not the best tool for the job. I probably should invest in a little Louisville Slugger . How I ever land a fish is a mystery to me. Dumb luck is my biggest tool OTW. In my defense, this was only my second legal halibut, and the first I have ever gaffed. It turns out that they have very boney noggins, and an even harder gill plate. In my mind, I wanted a head-shot to save the meat. Next time I’ll just jump in the water and wrestle the damn thing. That’ll be the best video yet….

12-22-2008, 03:57 PM	#20
Geoffkoop Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: So. Orange County Posts: 302	Nice Hali Nice work. That video is sweet! I have sat out there 3 hours without a bite too .