bean hollow 2006/8/19

Hey, do I notice some molly inspiration on your box there? 

yeah - I decided to go heavy duty with the bolt system instead of the plastic tie downs = works really well - especially with the heavier ocean gear  Thanks for the "how to" upgrade (with pics) 

Thanks for the inspiration to use the box in the first place!

I'm super happy with it.

MolBasser

What's your problem with gaffs Mooch?  Just do it!

Looks like you guys cleaned up.

MolBasser

I simply don't like using the gaff - especialy when you can't tell if the fish is legal to keep (I'm not very good with telling if it's a keeper or not) . I'd hate to punch a big hole on a fish that I wouldn't / can't keep. I just believe that the net is simply easier and safer to use. I actually watched in horror when EK got his giant ling (at the Elk derby) on the deck of his yak - with a gaff - and only to see it flop out again. It's a good thing his hook was still on it. The same thing happened to me this weekend. I gaffed the Halibut and as soon as I pulled it on deck AND before I could even secure it or bonk it on the head, it gave me an undesired lap dance and it flopped back into the blue....again, I was lucky that it was still hooked.  I just feel that I can control a thrashing fish better inside the hold of a net.  Just my 2 cents 

Now I'm not saying the net is better than the gaff = to each his own 

I need a folding net.

I understand the net/gaff thing, but what I don't understand is when you didn't have the choice, and had a gaff, how you couldn't just stick the mofo.

Once on a gaff you can't let the fish just lay there, you constantly need to use gravity to keep it on the gaff untill you get it stringered....

I do think that gaffs work better for boats where you don't have to worry about the fish when you get it onboard.....

MolBasser

how you couldn't just stick the mofo.

since I was not used to gaffing - I missed the fish a few times (Allen's gaff is also offset and not the typical "J")

you constantly need to use gravity to keep it on the gaff untill you get it stringered....

hard to do when it's a heavy (and long) fish - I couldn't even lift the entire fish off the deck 

my gaff shot went right through my halibut first swing.

so far so good, but that's where the doing good stopped.

I pulled it clear of the water because my stringer had fish on it already and I couldn't get it on that.

it flopped on the gaff, and either flopped off or the gaff ripped through the belly (I think it was the latter)

pretty sure that halibut was mortally injured which sucks.

It was not huge, but was legal for sure, in the 24-28 range I think.

I should have had

1. a net

2. a second gaff

3. a free game stringer to put through the mouth while it was still under water and stunned by the gaff shot.

4. dumped the fish I had in my hatch and used the stringer to secure the 'but.

I had none of these and froze when it freaked out holding it over the water, I should have at least slapped it on the deck.

well, what can I say? live and learn.

J

Regarding the free game clip, I learned an important lesson from Allen B. - He keeps 2 game clips. One to store fish on and the other hangs on the side of his kayak - already opened and secured by a sturdy leash on his kayak. The second gclip is strickly for securing a big fish before it gets a lethal dose of pounding  .

I'll be doing the some from now on / thanks for the tip Allen   

Yeah, that way when I get a big fish on, i can reach back with my left hand and grab the gaff.  Once the fish is gaffed and on the deck in front of me, I secure my rod, switch the gaff to my right hand, and reach over (blind) to get the open stringer. 

String the fish up, then beat the fish down.

The bat gaff I use has a straight angled point on a big wood bat.  It floats, and the straight angle can usaually help me to keep the fish on the deck.  I twist the bat so the straight point is pressing the fish down to the deck, if you can visualize that.  Putting the clip on the fish, you can twist the clip to keep the head on the deck while whaling on it with the "other" side of the bat gaff.  Of course, things can always go wrong, like two years ago when a halibut starting thrashing before I got his head on deck firmly.  I was holding the game clip with my hand through the small end and the tip of the clip raked my knuckle.  9 stitches...

Mooch thanks for the great pix, what a day that was!

Allen

Regarding the free game clip, I learned an important lesson from Allen B. - He keeps 2 game clips. One to store fish on and the other hangs on the side of his kayak - already opened and secured by a sturdy leash on his kayak. The second gclip is strickly for securing a big fish before it gets a lethal dose of pounding  .

I'll be doing the some from now on / thanks for the tip Allen   

That IS a good idea!

MolBasser

I have a question about big hard flapping fish like a large halibut......  If you get it on the game clip before it is subdued, does it present a significant problem if it heads back into the water?  Does it make you feel like you might be upset on the water?

once you get it on the game clip, you can gently pull just the head out of water and whack it a few times. okay, a lot of times.

I think that yes, it could definitely tip you tho, a real concern.

is it legal to bring an air pistol on board and just cap the but in the head?  I've got a sweet little .177 CO2 number I could bring.....


MolBasser

Don't miss with that air gun and shoot a hole in your kayak. I am sure it wouldn't go through the bottom hull as well, but if it doesn't penetrate teh top hull, it might ricochete. Don't wanna be know as 'One-eyed Mol" do ya? I'll stick with beating 'em.

Wow ! Nice stringers of fish to all of you. The extra game clip is great just for that Big Butt or any other monsters.

This is how i would do it if i ever catch a big halibut again! I would secure the fish with the game clip then lasso its tail and put the hog tie on it. that should immobilize the halibut for sure.


great job guys.