Gaff or Net?

[dsafety]

I do not yet have a gaff for my kayak. So far, this has not been a big deal because I have not caught anything large enough to require one. In fact, I have not even needed to use my net more than once or twice. My poor fishing skills are improving so I am thinking about whether to pick up a small gaff.

Since I release just about everything I catch, I am not inclined to use a gaff very often. I am sure that this will change the first time I hook into a nice TY or WSB. My question for the group is whether I need to have a gaff on board or will I be able to get by with just the net?

If I do end up getting a gaff, what kind should I get?

I look forward to reading your opinions.

Bob

[bajadog]

Bob,

I bought a 3' wooden gaff at West marine for $4.50, then cross drilled a
hole in the handle and ran a lanyard through it to clip to my yak eyelet.

Marco

[TheSherThang]

Definitely get a gaff as you never know what you might get into. You can make your own out of a gaff hook and broom handle, go the cheaper route as above, or get a promar floating one that extends. I made my own

[FISHIONADO]

I keep an 18" folding net in my hatch because I understand it is required by the DFG but I have never used it. A gaff is very useful for La Jolla, pulling in big fish, de-hooking sharks, and tourist control. I only release fish that are short or taste bad.

[dsafety]

You are lucky Fishionado, or maybe just a good fisher. It seems that I only catch shorts or fish that taste bad so just about everything gets released. I am getting really good at catching bait, however.

Bob

[tylerdurden]

Gaff. No question. If it is small enough to use a net, just grab it with your hands. If it is too big to net, gaff it to keep it, or just grab it to release. I have never used a net on the kayak, ever. I think they would add more complication than needed.


DFG regs require a net, but everytime I've been checked by an agent the subject never came up.

[Billy V]

I seem to have collected a bunch of different gaffs over time.

The little cheapie from West Marine is hard to beat, although I did spring for a promar floating gaff @ OEX this year just because it looked cool $30

The cheap one works just as well unless you are going to gaff a big shark.

I have this 12" aluminum gaff that I bought 20 years ago that is my favorite.

[dsafety]

Billy,

Are those point guards homemade or do they come with the gaffs? If homemade, what do you use?

Bob

[Billy V]

They are homemade from clear 3/8" vinyl tubing I bought from Homedepot.

The short gaff has 1/4"

[tylerdurden]

Originally Posted by Billy V

...

The cheap one works just as well unless you are going to gaff a big shark...

Don't gaff a big shark. Tail rope and knife the gills. A big shark will got ballastic as soon as it gets stuck. Tail rope a mako though and it will turn on itself and bite through the rope, at least someone else found that one out.

[Handymansd]

You definitely need a gaff for game fish. A Boca grip can work for butts, but a gaff is a very useful tool when used properly for YT, WSB, and Butts. It is also helpful releasing sharks, rays etc. And as Dave pointed out... it is extremely useful for tourist crowd control.

Originally Posted by tylerdurden

Don't gaff a big shark. Tail rope and knife the gills. A big shark will got ballastic as soon as it gets stuck. Tail rope a mako though and it will turn on itself and bite through the rope, at least someone else found that one out.

Better the rope than an arm!

[AYS]

a boga grip is actually a pretty bad idea for halibut. I would net a barely legal over boga gripping it because grabbing it by the mouth allows for it to beat that tail. A barely legal can do some damage, let alone a lunker butt. If your going to get a gaff, take two things into consideratioin. First, get one with a mustad hook. Unless you want to be raplacing it every few trips. A lot of hooks will rust out or are made poorly and will not stick and hold fish. Another thing to consider is a large hook will hold better, but a small gaff hook will be easier to stick in a fish. Check out the Blue Room Special Gaff's at AYS. They are cheaper then the promars, are bright yellow for visibility if you drop it, it floats, it has a mustad gaff, it has a wooden dowel inside for added weight to help sink the hook and to beat fish over the head (works well on lings ), and it is fiberglass so it will last forever. I added a small piece of X-wrap to mine and its just as good now as the day I bought it.

[dsafety]

I went looking for a gaff today and came back empty handed. All I could find were the long handled gaffs designed for large boats. Sports Authority, Big 5, even Walmart do not even sell gaffs. I found some in specialty stores but they were to large and really expensive.

Anyone know where I can buy an inexpensive gaff about two feet in length?

Bob

[bajadog]

Originally Posted by dsafety

I went looking for a gaff today and came back empty handed. All I could find were the long handled gaffs designed for large boats. Sports Authority, Big 5, even Walmart do not even sell gaffs. I found some in specialty stores but they were to large and really expensive.

Anyone know where I can buy an inexpensive gaff about two feet in length?

Bob

See above

I bought a 3' wooden gaff at West marine for $4.50, then cross drilled a
hole in the handle and ran a lanyard through it to clip to my yak eyelet.

[rastrev]

Anyone know where I can buy an inexpensive gaff about two feet in length?

Squidco has some small ones with wooden handles for less than $10 too.

[dsafety]

Went to West Marine in O'side today. They had nothing under $45. I guess that I will have to grab the fish by the gills tomorrow if I catch anything big. That would be OK since I have had zero luck so far with anything worth keeping. Maybe if I hook up, some friendly member of the kayak nation will paddle over and lend a hand. One can only hope.

The next time I am near Squidco, I will check them out.

Thanks,

Bob

[mc08066]

Don't be afraid to look at the gaffs at OEX. Good quality although priced
around $30.

[esdees]

Get one from OEX. They're meant to be used from a kayak.

[Zed]

The notorious FarmerTed and his Home Depo gaff.

[Sherm]

Squidco has short cheap gaffs that work fine. The only time I use a net is when fishing the bay. A lot of times you get those butts that are just short and netting them is the way to go. Nets have a tendancy to get in the way as well. A gaff or two are easily stored out of the way. I take two gaffs when I go out. One is a double hook cuda type gaff and the other is a single hooked squidco special.