What's your end game (net, lip grip, gaff) and why?

There are many ways to get a fish into your kayak once you have it close.  You can use a net, lip grip, your hands and or foot, a gaff, pistol (kidding) .  I've noticed that most kayak anglers don't use a net for striped bass, but for salmon they do.  Can someone explain to me why?  Why do you use one method over another?  Does it have to do with how the various species act when they see the boat?  Thanks

Net for catch and release.

Gaff for anything I will eat in the salt except salmon (could be a silver).

For the most part gaffs are illegal to even have in possession while fishing fresh water.

Depends a lot. For rockfish I just use lip grippers. Unless maybe it was a really big one. Lingcod I use lip grippers unless it's throwing a hissy fit then I net it.

I have not caught anything large enough to warrant using a gaff.

Depends on the teeth or the creature your catching, IMHO    Lings, Halibut, Cabbies get the lip gripper or gaff.  Rockfish get the lip grippers or my fingers, cause they dont have a lot of teeth.  Bass and Trout get the net, so do Salmon when salmon fishing, because they are squirmy when you land them. 

rock fish...gloved fingers......lings and cabby big net and let em wrap up tight so I can work the gear without on deck drama...plus it keeps them from shredding their jaws on jigs and wrecking my poles and FF....salmon If i ever get one - big net

WSB and Butts--again if I ever hook one some  day--   gaff...folks said they dont like to get in the net very much

I own several gaffs and haven't used them in years.  I also have multiple lip grippers and have never landed a fish with one. 

I'm a big net guy unless I'm releasing, then I'll use my hands.

For halibut or lingcod I like a gaff.
For rockfish I use a boga grip or just put them on the game clip before unhooking. I use the boga to hold  lingcod I'll be releasing too, so I can leave them in the water.
For salmon I have a decent sized net.

Freshwater - Small net for trout (soft catch and release net if any are likely to be released). LMB get lipped, stripers and catfish get netted.

Saltwater - Always bring an 18" plus net to be legal. Salmon get netted in a BIG net. Rockfish get picked up by the lip or lifted by the line. Short lingcod get picked up by hand (not through gills) or shaken off the hook still in the water. Big lingcod that are getting kept get gaffed through the lip (they tend to come up with their mouths wide open). Questionable halibut get picked up by the tail, keeper halibut get gaffed.

Well hooked rockfish to keep, lift into yak with pole. Small rockfish, lift, grab hook shank, flip fish off. I use barbless for everything. Releasable lings, hold leader, slide gaff hook to hook bend,push leader opposite of hook entry, pull gaff. Instant release. Big lings if well hooked grab jig and lift into yak. Poorly hooked big lings or hitch hikers use net. Salmon, head rap with back of gaff then stick and lift.

Whatever seems like the best thing to do at the time.  Salmon almost always get the net.  Lingcod might get the net, the boga, the gaff, or the heave ho.  It just depends.  Rockfish are more likely to get the boga or the gaff than the net.

I'm more likely to net on my left side and gaff on my right side everything else being equal.  I let the fish pick the side.

Barbless during salmon season, so if I'm releasing I don't even bring the fish out of the water.  Pliers on the shank if necessary, gaff hook and a flick of the wrist if lip hooked.

Basically, I try to figure out the best way to accomplish my goal, whether thats retain, release, or measure, knowing that I suck at gaffing with my left hand and there isn't a real good way to practice.

Depends on the teeth or the creature your catching, IMHO    Lings, Halibut, Cabbies get the lip gripper or gaff.  Rockfish get the lip grippers or my fingers, cause they dont have a lot of teeth.  Bass and Trout get the net, so do Salmon when salmon fishing, because they are squirmy when you land them.

this....and a gaff for WSB and 'butts that are for sure legal (if on the fence I net them)

If it's big it gets the gaff, salmon included. It's easy to spot a coho at yakside. Small to medium fish I just slide them into my lap. Feels really good to gaff a big chinook.

If it's big it gets the gaff, salmon included. It's easy to spot a coho at yakside. Small to medium fish I just slide them into my lap. Feels really good to gaff a big chinook.

Not so for the untrained eye. I wouldn't recommend that anyone gaff a salmon, as I have seen some knowledgeable anglers bring silvers to shore.

If it's big it gets the gaff, salmon included. It's easy to spot a coho at yakside. Small to medium fish I just slide them into my lap. Feels really good to gaff a big chinook.

Not so for the untrained eye. I wouldn't recommend that anyone gaff a salmon, as I have seen some knowledgeable anglers bring silvers to shore.

How knowledgeable can they be if they're bringing in silvers? Learn to ID fish, then gaff them. It is a much easier method to land chrome. I recommend everyone try it. I shake my coho off yakside without netting them which is much easier on them.

If it will fit in the net, then the net it is.  My range of motion is slightly limited and a net is the easiest way for me to reach and not tip things over.