Gaff Recommendations

I'm on vacation and forgot my fishing net, so I'm thinking about buying a gaff so I'll have a different option for landing a fish instead of having two nets. Does anyone have recommendations for gaffs, or styles of gaffs (like get 24" to 30", with a U shape vs a V shape, etc.).

This 24" Offshore Angler floats, has a U hook and is only $30, which seems good enough.

https://www.basspro.com/p/offshore-angler-2-gaff

This Promar is telescoping from 29" to 46", which gives one options, and can get smaller for storage, but has the V hook.  https://www.basspro.com/p/promar-telescopic-gaff

Any thoughts on what people like for Kayaks?

My DIY gaff is 30" with a 3.5" eye, and that's probably overkill. A 24" gaff should be sufficient on a kayak. Those 2 from at Bass Pro look kind of cheaply made, and the one with the fishing rod handle might not survive a large, berserking halibut.

In any case, a gaff is definitely the way to land those big halibut that you will be catching in Moss Landing. If you get a good gaff shot, the halibut will go quiet long enough for you to get it on the game clip (assuming you are quick). I don't even bring a net on the ocean (don't tell the game warden...).

Not sure we're required to carry an 18" net on the ocean but maybe.  I bought a gaff hook on ebay and screwed it to a dowel then mega black taped it and finished with paracord wrap at gaff top and on ends.  It is 24" and was easy to make.   

I have an aluminum handle gaff I got at a garage sale. '80s vintage.  Works like a champ.

It's about 4' long, fits in a rod holder, and mostly floats. The hook was originally in a U shape, but I bent into more of a V. I also sharpened the hook, so it grabs stuff pretty good now.

I like the longer handle for when I use a longer leader - read: I sometimes get carried away when making my leaders, haha. I can always choke up the handle, but I have the reach there if I need it.
 
To meet 18" net policy, I carry a folding net. Tucks mostly out of the way when I don't need it, and I never really need to lift a fish with the kayak, so I don't worry about the integrity of the net with the folding bits. It folds open into a pretty big triangle net when I do need it - something like 24" wide across the front edge, and 27" from front edge to the folding junction, and about 18" deep to the floor.

Yes, you gotta hav a net in the ocean 18".

also big no-no to gaff any undersized fish.  Hence net.

Good luck have safe and be fun!

Bushy

Yes, you gotta hav a net in the ocean 18".

also big no-no to gaff any undersized fish.  Hence net.

Good luck have safe and be fun!

Bushy

Undersized/borderline/questionable fish get released no-touch, which is easy-peasy on a kayak (not to mention that a cheap net will split a fish's tail, likely resulting in death). So, IMHO, there is no need for a net on a kayak in the ocean (with the possible exception of salmon fishing), other than to keep the game warden happy. Speaking of which, I've been warden-checked dozens of times on the water and at the dock, and have never been asked about my missing net. Of course, YMMV, and it would be smart to carry a net, but never use it...

I like my Promar GFE-523 Elite Series Carbon.  Great for halibut fishing.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B076SRJ5LK?ref_=ppx_hzsearch_conn_dt_b_fed_asin_title_3

I like my Promar GFE-523 Elite Series Carbon.  Great for halibut fishing.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B076SRJ5LK?ref_=ppx_hzsearch_conn_dt_b_fed_asin_title_3

+1

Thanks all! Very helpful!!!

I like my Promar GFE-523 Elite Series Carbon.  Great for halibut fishing.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B076SRJ5LK?ref_=ppx_hzsearch_conn_dt_b_fed_asin_title_3

The video at that Amazon link is amusing: "You have to have a gaff if you have a boat in Southern California, and those of you that don't have a gaff that's probably because you never catch anything. We're only talking to people that actually catch fish..."

I'm pretty new to halibut fishing from a kayak. Does anyone have a good instructional video on how to gaff a big halibut from a kayak? I've done it from a boat, but never from a kayak. Any "gotchyas" that someone might not think of? I know with big fish a mistake can cost you the fish (or worse).

I'm pretty new to halibut fishing from a kayak. Does anyone have a good instructional video on how to gaff a big halibut from a kayak? I've done it from a boat, but never from a kayak. Any "gotchyas" that someone might not think of? I know with big fish a mistake can cost you the fish (or worse).

Make your first shot count. Everyone has a little different strategy. Some like to hold the gaff over the fish and pull towards themselves. I like to put the gaff between me and the fish, and pull straight upwards. Once on the gaff, I put the rod in the holder, and game clip the fish - before lifting it onto my kayak. Then I celebrate!

I'm pretty new to halibut fishing from a kayak. Does anyone have a good instructional video on how to gaff a big halibut from a kayak? I've done it from a boat, but never from a kayak. Any "gotchyas" that someone might not think of? I know with big fish a mistake can cost you the fish (or worse).

Make your first shot count. Everyone has a little different strategy. Some like to hold the gaff over the fish and pull towards themselves. I like to put the gaff between me and the fish, and pull straight upwards. Once on the gaff, I put the rod in the holder, and game clip the fish - before lifting it onto my kayak. Then I celebrate!

I keep the gaff point pointing away from my kayak to avoid accidentally stabbing it.

I'm pretty new to halibut fishing from a kayak. Does anyone have a good instructional video on how to gaff a big halibut from a kayak? I've done it from a boat, but never from a kayak. Any "gotchyas" that someone might not think of? I know with big fish a mistake can cost you the fish (or worse).

Make your first shot count. Everyone has a little different strategy. Some like to hold the gaff over the fish and pull towards themselves. I like to put the gaff between me and the fish, and pull straight upwards. Once on the gaff, I put the rod in the holder, and game clip the fish - before lifting it onto my kayak. Then I celebrate!

That is how I do it, except I bring the fish out of the water. But clip it before removing the gaff. The gaff stuns them and they come to life after removal. Also practice some "air gaffing" to make sure you are keeping the gaff hook aligned with your pull. Initially I was involuntarily twisting the upward motion, in which case the hook would miss the fish.

I'm pretty new to halibut fishing from a kayak. Does anyone have a good instructional video on how to gaff a big halibut from a kayak? I've done it from a boat, but never from a kayak. Any "gotchyas" that someone might not think of? I know with big fish a mistake can cost you the fish (or worse).

Make your first shot count. Everyone has a little different strategy. Some like to hold the gaff over the fish and pull towards themselves. I like to put the gaff between me and the fish, and pull straight upwards. Once on the gaff, I put the rod in the holder, and game clip the fish - before lifting it onto my kayak. Then I celebrate!

I keep the gaff point pointing away from my kayak to avoid accidentally stabbing it.

Oh Crap I hadn't even thought of that...Another fear unlocked