NorCal Kayak Anglers

Kayak Fishing Zone => General Fishing Tips => Topic started by: ClarkT on June 20, 2011, 11:16:49 PM

Title: "Spinning" Lingcod
Post by: ClarkT on June 20, 2011, 11:16:49 PM
Hi, I wanted to ask how folks manage their catch that are "green" onboard their kayaks?   I hooked up on a very aggressive lingcod this weekend and had a heck of a time controlling the fish on board the kayak.   The fish was right around the 22 inch size minimum so I tried very carefully to avoid harming the fish (no gaff and no net).   While trying to hold the fish and measuring it, the fish went bezerk in  a wild spin and I could not control it at all ( I think we've all seen that before)   :smt002.   The ling ended up leaving it's mark on my finger--which was enough for me to say "you've earned your freedom" and I kicked it overboard to live another day.

Any tips would be really appreciated from the experts out there! :)

thanks
ClarkT
Title: Re: "Spinning" Lingcod
Post by: Bird on June 21, 2011, 06:55:12 AM
http://kayakfishinggear.com/thefishgrip-madeintheusa-newcolorspinkandglowinthedark.aspx (http://kayakfishinggear.com/thefishgrip-madeintheusa-newcolorspinkandglowinthedark.aspx)

Pick-up a Fish Grip - cheap and effective.  Or could go with a BogaGrip which are more expensive but high quality with scales.
Title: Re: "Spinning" Lingcod
Post by: ravensblack on June 21, 2011, 07:20:50 AM
That little ole thang? Gloves
Title: Re: "Spinning" Lingcod
Post by: Jedmo on June 21, 2011, 07:41:31 AM
Yeah, I would go with the Fish Gripper bro. I hope your finger heal fast.

Jedmo
Title: Re: "Spinning" Lingcod
Post by: PISCEAN on June 21, 2011, 08:46:45 AM
Pony up for a boga grip and put a float on it. The advantage of the boga over the plastic grippers is that the fish can spin all it wants to without harm. On the plastic "pliers-type" grippers I have seen fish injured when they spin off (broken jaws on lingcod).
Still, some fish will always find a way to get you.
Title: Re: "Spinning" Lingcod
Post by: Fuzzy Tom on June 21, 2011, 09:42:51 AM
Tight fitting thin nitrile coated fabric work gloves (Pro-Build lumber store) - I can tie knots with them on, hooks can get through,but you need to push them pretty hard to do so. 
   Lip gripper, never a net for ling- cuts into fishing time trying to untangle.
Title: Re: "Spinning" Lingcod
Post by: rockfish on June 21, 2011, 09:50:48 AM
one more vote for lip gripper of some sort.  I really like the "econo-scale" that bass pro carries.  $25 and it comes with a scale.  I have mine on a short leash and when a fish goes beserk I can just drop it in the water and let it spin on the string a sec, then haul its butt back on board  :smt001

as far as bite marks...my hands are perpetually chewed up, so I dont know what to say  other than, looks like you were catching some fish  :smt044

jim
Title: Re: "Spinning" Lingcod
Post by: Fisherman X on June 21, 2011, 10:10:55 AM
one more vote for lip gripper of some sort.  I really like the "econo-scale" that bass pro carries.  $25 and it comes with a scale.  I have mine on a short leash and when a fish goes beserk I can just drop it in the water and let it spin on the string a sec, then haul its butt back on board  :smt001

as far as bite marks...my hands are perpetually chewed up, so I dont know what to say  other than, looks like you were catching some fish  :smt044

jim

 :smt003
I've had a couple of the econo scales, too - I like 'em a lot and am not too upset when I lose it due to the low price.
Title: Re: "Spinning" Lingcod
Post by: e2g on June 21, 2011, 12:29:08 PM
if you can afford it and not harming fish is your goal, the expensive boga is the best,  Like Piscean said, the swivel action prevents spinning fish from breaking there jaws.
Title: Re: "Spinning" Lingcod
Post by: SteveS doesn't kayak anymore on June 21, 2011, 02:00:47 PM
That little ole thang? Gloves

+1 or skip the gloves and HTFU
Title: Re: "Spinning" Lingcod
Post by: Pern on June 21, 2011, 06:53:12 PM
gloves and grip.. ditto.. or just throw it on the boat and break out the ol' billy  :smt044
Title: Re: "Spinning" Lingcod
Post by: ClarkT on June 21, 2011, 09:39:08 PM
Thanks everyone for the suggestions--I appreciate it!  Definitely need to pick up one of the fish grippers, probably one of the lower cost options.   I'd be totally upset if I dropped one of the Boga-grips overboard.      Got to respect those "choppers" on the lings and halibut!   :smt003
Title: Re: "Spinning" Lingcod
Post by: bwodun on June 21, 2011, 11:53:32 PM
Pony up for a boga grip and put a float on it. The advantage of the boga over the plastic grippers is that the fish can spin all it wants to without harm. On the plastic "pliers-type" grippers I have seen fish injured when they spin off (broken jaws on lingcod).
Still, some fish will always find a way to get you.
yeah i love the fact mine can spin until this morning when the ling went into the most aggresive power spin i have ever seen and wrapped the leader and line and broke off the lucanus and i watched it snap, fly away and sink, but the fish was fine, until the fish be good stick came out and i relived the stress of losing that lure :smt003
Title: Re: "Spinning" Lingcod
Post by: Dan V on June 22, 2011, 06:46:50 PM
I would not waste the few dollars one of the plastic grippers cost , this last spring small stripers (22-23")  would come loose of the plastic grippers with little effort !
Title: Re: "Spinning" Lingcod
Post by: Desertdiver on June 22, 2011, 10:55:58 PM
Good Grippers, then I use a metal locking stringer, gills through mouth to keep from gettin' poked or bit, and if really fiesty, blade the brain, or woodshampoom, actually retired old ab iron.
I know ...one more thing to get tangled in or  float away, just save the beer and fish.
Title: Re: "Spinning" Lingcod
Post by: fungunnin on June 23, 2011, 09:03:43 AM
Gloves are my best friend on the water. Neoprene 1mm when it is cold. Rubber palmed garden gloves when it is warmer. I have have seen lings break their jaws on the lip grippers but I cut his gills right after so I didn't feel too bad about it.
The biggest thing with little lings that go ape shit is you have to control them. Lingcod don't have hard spines like cabs or rockfish so I like to grab them behind the head. This gives me pretty good control of the fish. Pin them against the deck if the are doing the alligator roll on you. Just don't be timid.

Here is a vid from this weekend's ORC of how it's done with a bigger ling and a gaf, quick and smooth with a leg to pin her if she freaks out. That fish was about 35" and 16#

Kayak fishing Depoe Bay, OR 6-18-11 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=siPxC0iRgG4#ws)
Title: Re: "Spinning" Lingcod
Post by: LoletaEric on June 23, 2011, 09:43:48 AM
Nice vid, FG.   :smt001

I don't believe in the lip grippers - they look like they'll work fine on small to mid-size fish, but aren't we out there hoping to catch really big fish?!  When a 20+ pound lingcod, salmon or halibut comes up along your boat you'll want a way to capture it and dispatch it if that's your aim.  I've been recommending the giant net for a long time, and I've also been considering how to set myself up with a flying gaff of some sort. 

When I see guys OTW w/o the means of capturing a massive fish it makes me realize that those guys may learn a hard lesson when they do bring a really big fish up alongside the yak.  A huge part of the sport for me is the consideration of what I'll do if...

http://youtu.be/4_RUqf11bos (http://youtu.be/4_RUqf11bos)
Title: Re: "Spinning" Lingcod
Post by: casey7 on June 23, 2011, 10:13:04 AM
 I  attach my fishgripper to the yak with a leash. I've had it pulled out of my hand sometimes. Them lings is surprisingly strong. After I lost my pliers to a ling , I put a leash on it also.
   You can try just gripping the hook with pliers and the fish will spin itself free, never has to leave the water.
Title: Re: "Spinning" Lingcod
Post by: Sin Coast on June 23, 2011, 10:16:38 AM
Eric you need some gloves bro! Beast mode!
Title: Re: "Spinning" Lingcod
Post by: fungunnin on June 23, 2011, 10:21:31 AM
Nice vid, FG.   :smt001

I don't believe in the lip grippers - they look like they'll work fine on small to mid-size fish, but aren't we out there hoping to catch really big fish?!  When a 20+ pound lingcod, salmon or halibut comes up along your boat you'll want a way to capture it and dispatch it if that's your aim.  I've been recommending the giant net for a long time, and I've also been considering how to set myself up with a flying gaff of some sort. 

When I see guys OTW w/o the means of capturing a massive fish it makes me realize that those guys may learn a hard lesson when they do bring a really big fish up alongside the yak.  A huge part of the sport for me is the consideration of what I'll do if...

http://youtu.be/4_RUqf11bos (http://youtu.be/4_RUqf11bos)

Washington doesn't allow us to use a gaff for lingcod but we can for halibut. I rigged up a flying gaff of sorts for halibut but never had a chance to use it this year. My buddy took a 45# Pacific 'but with a Harpoon after a gaff attempt just really pissed the fish off. Big nets are great but if you catch any wind the just turn into a huge sail and can made for a crappy day in a heart beat! Here is my hali rig. Next version will be a shortened 4 footish harpoon for hali with a larger buoy.

(http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/230103_1951137651177_1024685910_32254034_24464_n.jpg)
Title: Re: "Spinning" Lingcod
Post by: LoletaEric on June 23, 2011, 10:37:50 AM
Looks good, FG - that's the type of setup I've been playing around with, and a harpoon is on the list too.

Quote from: Sin Coast
Eric you need some gloves bro! Beast mode!

You should see my legs after night-berrypicking with shorts on plus double digit SNPA's...   :smt005  (fine line between Beast and Bonehead   :smt003 :smt006)
Title: Re: "Spinning" Lingcod
Post by: PISCEAN on June 23, 2011, 10:50:36 AM
I've often thought of a similar setup as that gaff, but with a very short polespear with a toggle head as the "hali sticker" for fish over 30lbs or so, but unless I was out looking for pac halis I doubt I'd ever use it. My custom gaff I do use has worked great so far. But I am planning on getting a boga grip when the opportunity ($) presents itself.
I'm kind of done with the plastic grippers, but they do have their uses. I like them for rockies I plan to release, and for help when cleaning fish.
Title: Re: "Spinning" Lingcod
Post by: fungunnin on June 23, 2011, 11:06:00 AM
Looks good, FG - that's the type of setup I've been playing around with, and a harpoon is on the list too.

Quote from: Sin Coast
Eric you need some gloves bro! Beast mode!

You should see my legs after night-berrypicking with shorts on plus double digit SNPA's...   :smt005  (fine line between Beast and Bonehead   :smt003 :smt006)

The shark hook gaff doesn't need the buoy for most fish. The benefit is being able to have a flexible connection to the fish if it decides to go crazy. The other option is a locking gaff used to handle big tarpon.

(http://www.lockjawgaff.com/gaff_rope.jpg)

For me the <$20 price tag on the shark hook DIY system is much easier to swallow.
Title: Re: "Spinning" Lingcod
Post by: Dan V on June 23, 2011, 08:09:22 PM
Gloves are my best friend on the water. Neoprene 1mm when it is cold. Rubber palmed garden gloves when it is warmer. I have have seen lings break their jaws on the lip grippers but I cut his gills right after so I didn't feel too bad about it.
The biggest thing with little lings that go ape shit is you have to control them. Lingcod don't have hard spines like cabs or rockfish so I like to grab them behind the head. This gives me pretty good control of the fish. Pin them against the deck if the are doing the alligator roll on you. Just don't be timid.

Here is a vid from this weekend's ORC of how it's done with a bigger ling and a gaf, quick and smooth with a leg to pin her if she freaks out. That fish was about 35" and 16#

Kayak fishing Depoe Bay, OR 6-18-11 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=siPxC0iRgG4#ws)
 



I could be wrong but that ling looks just like the cabbies  I catch and cabbies have soft back spines . Been so long since I caught a ling I don't remember what their spines are for sure , but thought the were pointry ?
Title: Re: "Spinning" Lingcod
Post by: piski on June 23, 2011, 10:01:21 PM
Quote from: PISCEAN
....On the plastic "pliers-type" grippers I have seen fish injured when they spin off (broken jaws on lingcod).

Yep, easy to break a jaw on a ling with a plastic gripper - learned that the hard way (for the fish, anyway). Not cool if the point is to release a fish "unharmed."