Game clips?

  I know a few of you use them, as I've read in my last post regarding nets.  Do you guys have any concern with sea lions,seals, or sharks comming in and ripping your catch from the clips?  How is that scenario delt with? Avoided?  I'm assuming the game clip is left in the water, or are they kept on the back deck?
   How about when a catch is bleeding?  scupper holes draining blood?  Seems to me that would be a concern for sharks.

Well most of us have two game clips, so you can always have one free for that big fish.

Personally if I'm going to be out for awhile I usually leave the clipped fish in the water, and only pull em in if I'm moving or if there are sealions around.

 I don't use clips on the ocean anymore unless I'm in close or in the bay. At the Cape and on the Mendo coast I've had close encounters with very large male Sealions.  Luckily shouting and paddle action fended them off but didn't appear to scare them at all. The clipped fish looked like candy so I switched to one of the fishbag coolers. Now my bloody fish are contained,cool,and out of the sun.
 The thought of a quarter ton plus of blubber joining me in my yak was very unsettling while offshore. I don't like being part of the food chain that far out...

It's always good practice to keep your catch on your rear tankwell.....then simply cover your catch with a burlap sack and every now and then use your paddle to splash (scoop water) on to the burlap to keep your fish moist

...and don't worry about the sharks..they'll more likely hit your kayak and hopefully figure out that it's not as edible as originally thought

I was thinking about something the other day when I saw that they've been boating threshers in S.C.  From my understanding, you should generally bleed out a shark once you catch him to keep the meat in good condition, but how would someone bleed out a thresher on a kayak?  I would doubt anyone wants a trail of blood coming out the back of their boat with lots of other threshers or the big landlord possibly around..

I throw my fish right inside the burlap bag. It eliminates the need for a clip or the effort to put the fish on the clip. The bag sits right between my legs and causes no problems.

I have a small clip I use but still think I should get one of the bigger ones.  However this one has a loop and detachable strap which I keep tied to the right hand bungee for the paddle ( I use that to attach lots of things really ).  But only keep it in the water if I'm on a lake.  In case I do catch a whopper, I keep a simple rope stringer that I can quickly grab if my clip is in use, or in the back and hard to reach.  So far... Hasn't been an issue since I haven't had a full stringer yet...     

I've never used a game clip.  There have been some times when one would've been handy - like carrying a half a dozen blacks and a ling up the beach to my truck.  But on the yak I prefer using my tankwell, and the burlap is the old stand-by - can't go wrong there.  What Amphibian said is true of my experience - put a fish between or under your leg and it's pretty well-subdued, in a bag or not - of course, in a bag is much better. 

I don't see a game clip as necessary at all, but it's a tool that serves some very well.

An observation I'd make here is that the way you stow your fish is likely directly related to how comfortable and skilled you are at handling a fish.  I think it's really important to have the knowledge and experience to handle a fish effectivley - if you're basically avoiding touching it all the way from caught to on the clip then you may be a little more dependent on your tools than you should be.  Just a thought. 

 

I use an old diving game clip that I keep attached to my seat strap via a removable nylon clip.  I'll generally keep it in the water unless I'm paddling or there are seals around, at which time I just fling everything to the area behind my rear tankwell (which is filled with my Plano box and rod holders).  I started off with the burlap sack idea, but it was too much work to reach behind the Plano and spare rods every time I had a fish to add to the bag.  I'd opt for the between-the-legs method if it wasn't for my Mirage drive taking up all that space.    That's the way I'll go after getting my next yak, which will hopefully be a 160...maybe even one of the new fishing models.  My wife just got naturalized a few days ago, and I tried convincing her that every US citizen was required to own at least one kayak.  I don't think she bought it though...

I use a plastic coated swagged piece of wire- 6 feet long, 3/16" diameter-- two loops on each end.  Thread through the gills and out the mouth. In the bay i'll drop halibut back in the water, and let them swim along on the leash. In the ocean they go on the wire, and under an old pillow case

I don't see a game clip as necessary at all, but it's a tool that serves some very well.

I feel the same about nets.

hello,
Well I thought I would chime in on this subject. I started out using a burlap sack which by the way are available for free at most of your local non corporate coffee shops that sell their own beans. I appreciate their application with keeping the sun off my catch and additionally to protect them and me from any harm. I use my game clip for 2 reasons, the first being to secure the fish at landing and/or after gaffing( 35"@20lbs. hali, 39"@28lbs. and various cabs and Lings). After I am am able to subdue the fish I then decide whether or not to transfer to the sack or leave it to the clip while I figure out my program. I think the main reason and second benefit of the game clip is security, to make sure you don't lose your trophy while you figure out what you need to do to land the beast. I store mine on a 3-'4 line of 4mm accessory cord (in case it goes crazy and I need to dump it over the side or it takes a dive on its own) and have this tied off on one of my accessory clips on the left side of my kayak, the side I prefer to land my fish on. I keep it stored under my seat for quick deployment-all of this is thanks to my mentor Allen Bushnell. Mike

where can i get one of these game clips in the bay area? how much does it cost?

where can i get one of these game clips in the bay area? how much does it cost?

Where do you live? Dive shop item or kayak store that sells fishing gear..
The clips are usually in the 15-20 dollar range.

i live in hayward.  i go to oakland and san jose occasionally.  i don't know any local dive shops or kayak stores.