lost a couple hitch-hiking lings this weekend

I lost a couple pretty nice lings that let go of rockfish right at the top. The were both still subsurfice. How do you land em? gaff, net? I know swearing at them doesn't work

Keep them beneath the surface, constantly gliding them (in figure 8's if you have to) till you can bag em.  I prefer the net, glide them head first right into the bag.  Gaffs you really only have one shot to stick them.   If they let go get your bait back down in front of it, 50/50 shot they'll latch back on.