Gaffing Salmon

September 12, 2013

Question: Is it legal to use a gaff to land salmon? On a fishing web site I follow, some guys are recommending using a gaff if the net is busy and two fish need to be landed at the same time. I can’t find the section in the saltwater regulation book to answer my question. Can you help? I’m just trying to stay legal. (Ralph C.)

Answer: In ocean waters, gaffs may only be used to land salmon that are of legal size. If a fish is short and a gaff is used, the angler is in violation (CCR Title 14, section 28.65(d)). In inland waters, only anglers fishing from a boat in the Sacramento River main stem below Deschutes Road Bridge can use a gaff (measuring three feet or less) to land legal-sized fish (CCR Title 14, section 2.06). It’s best to release any short salmon as close to the water as possible to give them the best chance for survival.

I always thought this was illegal???

I always thought this was illegal???

Me too!  What is really interesting is the part about being able to use a short gaff on the Sac River.  You would think that would be illegal no matter what.  I could see people using the gaff to snag river salmon.

I always thought this was illegal???

Me too!  What is really interesting is the part about being able to use a short gaff on the Sac River.  You would think that would be illegal no matter what.  I could see people using the gaff to snag river salmon.

Nope, you're allowed to gaff em.  As for using a gaff to take a salmon, it would be pretty difficult to do that in the main stem sac.  And i'm sure that's illegal.

I kinda thought it was illegal, but wasn't sure. Now I know. Always nice to learn something.
I'll still bring a big net for salmon, but it nice to know that a gaff is an option for bigger fish that can be positively ID'd.

you can also just bring your barely legal 18" net, and a gaff...

 Ive always assumed it is leagal to gaff Salmon; assuming the fish is of legal size. I gaffed a Salmon in 2010 as it was obviously of leagal size.  If a questionable sized Salmon came to boat, I would definatly not gaff it. Good topic.

Gaffing sounds convenient, but what if you catch a coho? I'm still fairly new to salmon fishing and still a rookie when it comes to identifying fish specially salmon. So I'd rather net it, id/measure it, and release unharmed if it's the wrong kind.

Gaffing sounds convenient, but what if you catch a coho? I'm still fairly new to salmon fishing and still a rookie when it comes to identifying fish specially salmon. So I'd rather net it, id/measure it, and release unharmed if it's the wrong kind.

If it's >20 lbs or more, so big that you feel compelled to gaff it, it's not a coho.

Half of the time, you can tell a Coho from a king just by the way it fights since they tend to be more acrobatic and jump out of the water more.   

How do you think the commercial salmon guys handle their fish? A good clean gaffshot will keep the scales intact and make a better-looking product. The crazy technique that I still don't understand is the bonk & gaff in one motion...immobilizes the fish so it won't go ballistic on the deck and lose scales.

How do you think the commercial salmon guys handle their fish? A good clean gaffshot will keep the scales intact and make a better-looking product. The crazy technique that I still don't understand is the bonk & gaff in one motion...immobilizes the fish so it won't go ballistic on the deck and lose scales.

Commercial gaffs are usually heavier than "sport" gaffs so a sharp rap not a smash with the back  of the gaff on the head is enough to stun the fish. The hand then turns the gaff bringing the gaff point to the head area. A sharp short pull sends the point through or almost through the gill area.  The fish is then lifted to the deck and hit once more sharp and hard. Lights out.

How do you think the commercial salmon guys handle their fish? A good clean gaffshot will keep the scales intact and make a better-looking product. The crazy technique that I still don't understand is the bonk & gaff in one motion...immobilizes the fish so it won't go ballistic on the deck and lose scales.

Sin, I've tried the bonk n gaff method and it makes me too nervous unless it's wide open. By wide open I mean 2 to 4 fish a wire constantly. At that point it's more efficient to bonk n gaff and save the time it takes to turn around and bonk. I have a good relationship with my buyer and he has fished with me so he knows how delicately I handle my fish. His product goes out scaled and filleted so he is not that worried about scales as an indicator of fish handling. He is also kind enough to give me lee way because of my disabled hand.
So when I'm fishing solo it goes something like this. 8 to 12 #ers (well hooked) get bounced. 12 to 18#ers get gaffed. 18# plus and it gets the net.
Cleaning them is the real art form. Done properly we call it "princess dressed"and we have to do it within 15 min of it hitting the deck.
This year I'm gonna get the gear to pressure bleed them.

Good info guys, thanks!
+1 on the heavier gaffs. They're usually longer too...
And I'm going to borrow that term princess-dressed Sharky...

The thing with gaffing a salmon from a kayak seems risky for sure. On a boat, you just need to get the fish over the rail...then you can drop it on the deck or wherever else. And the fish isn't getting away. But on a kayak...not much room to work and not much deck space, especially for a pissed-off salmon. You'd probably have to keep it hanging on the gaff and get it on the gameclip at the same time.

For sure on a yak its way more difficult. Net or gaff.