How do you boat a salmon?

Another option is to use your gaff if you know it's a legal sized king. Gotta play it out till it's tired or if it's coming in hot, take your time and don't scare it with your huge net. Just because you can see it, it doesn't mean that it has to go into the net immediately.

You better be damn sure it is a chinook and not a coho before you use your gaff.

Lead the salmon close to the boat and just lift his head above the water a bit. A sharp rap, not a smash, on the head with the back of the gaff will stun the fish. You can then gaff and slide a quiet salmon over the kayak. Gaffing a large wild fish is a method of last resort. If the fish is hooked well in the lower jaw one has a lot of leeway in landing it but if it is nose hooked or hooked lightly in the mouth skin there is usually only one chance at getting it in the boat.

Bonk before netting?!  Don't forget to ask it to be calm first...

Maybe change that YouTube search to "acquiescing to the charms of a blood-crazed yakker" and show the vid to the salmon.

Just get the big net - forget the gaff - and show the big net to it like a matador shows the red cape. It'll run and test your gear, so get the proper gear down.

You better be damn sure it is a chinook and not a coho before you use your gaff.

Yup, that's the idea (the way it fights, flashes on the surface, depth, size, etc..). I prefer a HUGE net; longest and widest one that you can get to decrease the eff-up factor. If I'm on a boat, then all bets all off, especially if there's a single net and more than one fish. Don't be afraid to use the gaff if you need to.

Lead the salmon close to the boat and just lift his head above the water a bit. A sharp rap, not a smash, on the head with the back of the gaff will stun the fish.

From your description, it sounds more like you're landing a halibut instead of a salmon? Keeping it's head just below the surface is hard enough in a moving boat. In a stationary yak, they're thrashing and darting around/under the boat when they get near.

What I said presupposes a played out fish. Yes, one can effectively use a big net but positioning and timing are critical there also.

Just get the big net - forget the gaff - and show the big net to it like a matador shows the red cape. It'll run and test your gear, so get the proper gear down.

+1  & using a gaff on a fish with no barb holding it seems way riskier than netting anyway.

As you draw the TIRED fish near look to see how it is hooked. If the hook is behind the jawbone or deep in the mouth you should not lose the fish at the boat using a gaff. I admit there are times where a big net is desirable especially for a hook job only through the mouth skin.  There has been more than one nice salmon catch the hook in net twine and twist off so position is as critical with net as gaff. I use 60# test leader so when the moment is right I can hand pull the fish into a decent gaff position. If you bend your own barbs for salmon  make the point of the barb touch the shank but allow the midsection of the barb portion to form a small "bump". This often helps keep the hook in place and as far as I know is considered a barbless hook.

With all due respect, Charles, if your fish is played out then netting it is very easy anyway.  I wouldn't mind attempting to gaff a salmon at some point, but the net is the standard.

I'd love to get a video of you gaffing yours!  Get in touch if you'll be in Humboldt. 

Actually...the technique Charles describes is how many commercial salmon fishermen handle their fish. For reals!! Bonk then gaff aboard in one motion. But that's for guys landing 50-100 salmon a day who need employ maximum efficiency and also preserve the flesh & scales. I'm more of a "get in mah net!" (fat bastard voice) type of guy...whatever it takes to scoop that sucker. The bigger the net, the better your chances. 

Actually...the technique Charles describes is how many commercial salmon fishermen handle their fish. For reals!! Bonk then gaff aboard in one motion. But that's for guys landing 50-100 salmon a day who need employ maximum efficiency and also preserve the flesh & scales. I'm more of a "get in mah net!" (fat bastard voice) type of guy...whatever it takes to scoop that sucker. The bigger the net, the better your chances.

Good info on the commie/superpro method, Pat.

Love it when you use Fat Bastard voice.   

Well, I was actually hoping you'd enjoy my new catch phrase:

The bigger the net, the better your chances. 

 

I just bought a new net btw. It's a biggun. But I hate how these big nets catch the wind while paddling. I'm trying to figure out how to lay it flat instead of having it stick straight up (that's what she said?).

Everyone, obviously, has a different idea about what a salmon set up should be or what works the best. Personally, my standard set up is a deep six, dodger and bait- green label herring with a hoochie. Now as far as leader lengths, somewhere around 30 inches from dodger to 2nd hook. BUT, if the salmon are biting on something else I will switch it up in a hot second. Whatever you choose to use, the entire set up needs to be about the length of your pole so you don't have the problem you described earlier. A well fought fish will come in belly up and be easier to net. Regardless if the fish is hot or fought to the brink of death- you should net it head first. Abking/ loletaeric/ Eric has the best videos on youtube- as far as instruction and guidance goes.

Good luck,
Sarah 

Just to back Charles up. I personally watched him do just what he described. He also let me know at the time he used to be a commercial fisherman too. So he's well practiced in the craft of bonking before gaffing. I started gaffing my salmon this year and I like it MUCH better. I have NO problem telling the difference between a coho and king salmon. If they are close to the minimum I'll reach for the net. Or if they are well hooked I'll just grab the leader close and give the ol' heave ho into the kayak. If they come off no biggie, better for the fish. A tip I'd like to share on nets tho. I put a heavy rubber band around the neck of the net handle (where it meets the net) and pull all the loose netting into it to keep it tight and from flopping around before netting the fish. This greatly reduces the chance of snagging it on something or the hooks before performing the final swoop. Lead the head right into the crotch of the net and when you lift, the weight of the salmon releases the net dropping him right into the center of the netting head down. Since I went to this a couple years ago, my mishaps at the net reduced dramatically! ie hooks stuck in the netting, fish not centered, snagging on something on the kayak etc... It looks a lot like a lacross net. On rivers you have no choice but to use a net. This has worked real well for me on the north coast rivers.

Well, I was actually hoping you'd enjoy my new catch phrase:

The bigger the net, the better your chances. 

 

I do like it, Pat, but I might like this better:

The smaller your net, the worse your chances!   

Good tips, Jonesz.  Sounds like there's plenty of expertise to acquire in the gaffing of salmon, and Charles sounds like an ace - would love to fish with you!  I'll stick with my net.

PK - regarding the net blowing in the wind, get bigger arms.   

The bigger the net, the better your chances. 

I bet my net is bigger than your net