What net u got?

Hey all, I have a question about nets vs gaffs. Should you have both? Any comments on pros and cons of both, aside from the obvious damage that a gaff will do to fish that you want or need to release?

I find that for me using a gaff in the kayak and then lifting the fish is an awkward motion that I’m not comfortable with.

A kage spear is the answer and it is amazing fun to stab a big halibut boatside.  They freeze the same and the downward motion of stabbing is much less awkward. 

Kage are of questionable legality for any fish other than sharks, skates, rays, and pacific halibut.

I think they are legal but CA DFW does not.  It's never been tested in court to my knowledge. I'd avoid them unless you want to be the test case.

It may be officer by officer, but we have met with and been checked out by DFG several times with halibuts that have holes in them from the kage and specifically took the opportunity to "self-incriminate" and verify the legality, and each time, the officers say they have no problem with the spear gaff.  These interactions have pretty drastically cooled off any paranoia we have in using them...

I'm not paranoid, I use one too.  It's just that I want the reader to be aware that DFW has explicitly said they are illegal and hasn't walked that back.

Question: Is a kage (Hawaiian spear gaff) legal in California waters? I live in Southern California and I use one to very quickly dispatch legal fish. A kage is easier than a regular gaff, especially since I'm fishing on a kayak.

I'm strictly a kayak angler and use my kage more often than a conventional gaff. In case you are unfamiliar with a kage, here are a few links that might help: http://deepbluekayakfishing.com/products/ ; www.scout.com/outdoors/fishing/story/1496518-kage-gaff . (Kevin M.)

Answer: The kage would not be considered a gaff and thus not be legal to use as a gaff from a kayak. A gaff is defined as “… any hook with or without a handle used to assist in landing fish or to take fish in such a manner that the fish does not take the hook voluntarily in its mouth” (California Code of Regulations Title 14, section 28.65(d)).

A kage would be considered spearfishing gear and subject to the diving and spearfishing regulations (CCR Title 14, section 28.90).

Under these regulations, you would be required to be floating or swimming in the water to use this device to take fin fish, other than those listed in this section.

It can also be considered a spear or harpoon, in which case (under CCR Title 14, section 28.95) if you were not in the water but on a kayak, boat or on the shoreline, it can only be used to take skates, rays and sharks (except white sharks).

And the device can’t even be possessed on a boat when swordfish or marlin have been taken.

The regs have since changed to allow take of pacific halibut with a harpoon:

28.95. SPEARS, HARPOONS AND BOW AND ARROW FISHING TACKLE. Spears, harpoons and
bow and arrow fishing tackle may be used for taking all varieties of skates, rays, and sharks, except white
sharks. Harpoons may be used to assist in taking Pacific halibut as specified in Section 28.20. Such gear
may not be possessed or used within 100 yards of the mouth of any stream in any ocean waters north
of Ventura County, nor aboard any vessel on any day or on any trip when broadbill swordfish or marlin
have been taken. Bow and arrow fishing tackle may be used to take finfish other than giant (black) sea
bass, garibaldi, gulf grouper, broomtail grouper, trout, salmon, broadbill [swordfish] and white shark

I bought a large Ranger net. Ordered it online based on reviews and found it to be profoundly heavy for kayaking use.

Thanks Crash!  Good info. 

Bow and arrow fishing tackle may be used to take finfish other than giant (black) sea
bass, garibaldi, gulf grouper, broomtail grouper, trout, salmon, broadbill [swordfish] and white shark

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This sounds fun too!

Lightweight cheap net inherited and found in garage. Octagonal handle seems to help for handling and gripping? Being held hostage by one known as twopatch?