Great Bass 2:
Since my epic wipe out last week, I have been working on improving my surf rigging. I had been using a bungee to hold my fish down in the tankwell with a plastic clip to attach the stringer to the yak. This system had performed well in the usual surf turtle roll wipe out but in the pitch pole wipe out with 40# of fish on the clip combined with the stern acceleration, enough force was generated to break the bugee and plastic clip resulting in loss. I also was using a bungee to hold my plano box down which also failed but I didn't lose the box. What I learned is that bungees if the the mass of the object is significant will fail in a massive wipeout. My solution was to have redundant restraints for all things attached to my yak.
The right (starboard) side of my yak is completely free of all rigging since this is the side I exit and re-enter from. My FF is folded down and a strap over the top. My gaff is held in place with a deck loop on the hook, paddle keeper over the middle and a carabiner on the butt. In addition, I attach my paddle leash to the handle, but this is just to keep the rigging clean. As recommended, I unleash my paddle for launch and landings and hold it in my right hand. A foam block protects the gaff point. So for the gaff I have 3 restraints and 2 on the FF.
Great Bass 2:
My rod is restrained with 2 paddle keepers and a leash connected to the butt. Note that it lays flush to the deck with the tip inside the edge of the yak and the guides rotated inward.
Great Bass 2:
For my plano box I added a double brass clip behind the seat attached to a deck loop which is bolted to the box. My drift chute is attached to the handle with 2 velcro straps. A bungee runs over the top of the rod holders. For launches and landing my reel (in a dry bag), VHF, boga, hat and sunglasses are stored in the box.
Great Bass 2:
For my game clips, I added a strap which I had from an old yak connected to carabiners.
Great Bass 2:
The strap can be threaded through the handles as shown or through the main part of the clip depending on the size of the fish. The large clip is attached to the end of the rope with a brass clip, the smaller clip is attached to the rope using a sliding carabiner so you can fill the first clip and leave it in the tankwell and still access the small clip. I think this system will withstand another epic wipeout which is only a matter of time. :smt005