lip grip

I use the plastic grippers all the time. "course I also bring a gaff, net, & clip too.

As Jayne said in 'Serenity"
"I just get excitable as to choice & like to have my options open!"

I have heard that lings can damage themselves on a gripper; if they twist hard enough they can break their jaw.
I've lost a few lings with the gripper, but then I wasn't too concerned with keeping those fish anyway. If I'm going to keep the fish I generally gaff or net 'em.
I think the grippers are great for rockies. I wouldn't use one on any kind of legal hali though.

halis are very difficult in general to grab by the mouth.  they do not like to open their mouths, and if their mouths are open and in reach then the fish's head is probably above water, which is generally a bad idea when trying to land a hali.  much better to net them or gaff em and keep them underwater until secure.

I think there's much value in learning to handle fish without such tools.

I agree, and have managed to go this long without one.  But I am considering one for butts and big lings, (being an optimist).

Just curious if anyone has managed wrangling LARGE toothy ones barehanded?

My last decent ling I CnR'd but put him on the game clip in order to get a photo.  Sure would like to hear about it if there's a way to grab em safely by hand.

I have landed lings with bare hands by sliding fingers under the lower part of their gill plates, but I wouldn't even dream of sticking my fingers into the mouth of a ling.    This is probably not a good idea for C&R since you might damage the gills this way.

i had the same question about handling the lings, watch some of loleta erics vids on you tube. he grabs the lings up barehand, i sent him a message and he said there is a ridge of cartlige inside the gills you can grab,just don't go to far in.

Good tool to have in addition to a net and gaff.  Especially helpful in getting a grip on the toothy fish.