Gaff Technique

I think I generally lip-grip it and stringer often at the side of the boat, I'm not in a rush to boat them unless they are not hooked well.  of course that's one reason that hali got off, I was holding it up next to the boat and trying to deal with a full stringer at the same time (now I have two stringers).

but that wetsuit I sure hope to heck you are going to be wearing in the future so you don't die of hypothermia (exposure) when things go wrong next time (hint! hint!) will give you some protection from the minor scrapes.

Scwafish, that was some lame gaffing,  , but I can't argue with the overall results,  . I am wondering if you usually bring the fish up on the right side to gaf? I will put in a plug for my custom KZ 8'3" rod with short butt and tons of reach here. any worthy fish gets brought around the right side for gripping, gaffing, or netting with my right hand while my left holds the rod.

but that wetsuit I sure hope to heck you are going to be wearing in the future


Already have one, thanks!  I only need a Fishfinder now.  And a lip gripper.  And a game clip.  Make that TWO game clips.  And booties.  Then I'll be done spending money...  But a new pfd would be nice.  And another rod.  Of course I'll need a new rod holder, too....

but that wetsuit I sure hope to heck you are going to be wearing in the future

Already have one, thanks!  I only need a Fishfinder now.  And a lip gripper.  And a game clip.  Make that TWO game clips.  And booties.  Then I'll be done spending money...  But a new pfd would be nice.  And another rod.  Of course I'll need a new rod holder, too....

OOOOOOOOOOOOOH the MADNESS!

Z

man Brian, you're so resourceful!!!
I don't know how to use gaff neither cuz I haven't caught fish that big...  Last gaff I had was lost in the ocean was still a virgin.   Hopefully, I can use it at Elk this year... 

I've had my own little obsession about perfecting my gaffing technique and the tools I use.  When I ordered my gaff from Erik, I chose the slap or commercial style gaff hook pictured on the right.



I liked the idea of being to reach out and gaff a fish.  I used it on a couple cabs and lings but soon realized a couple issues:
1)  I needed good aim to nail a hot fish.
2)  I needed more control of the gaff to keep the fish from slipping off the hook and from stabbing my leg or boat.  This wouldn't be problem if you were on a big boat with a longer handled gaff.

So, at the risk of voiding the warranty , I modified the gaff by bending the nice long point in to form more of a V-shape with a slight flare at the tip.  Now, when I lift up on the fish, the long narrowing gap along with the weight of the fish makes it tough for it to wiggle off.

In addition, I developed my own compact version of the "sturgeon punisher" using a metal rod and small piece of hydraulic tubing as a grip.  For me, it's much more effective than a bulky wooden club.  It delivers the blow right to the point!

I used this gaff and punisher combo to land my WSB and number of lings since.  I feel like I've got it dialed in and feel much more confident about using a gaff.

After thinking about my gaffing technique this is what I came up with. I hold the gaff like a ski pole, the gaff point down and facing away from me. When the fish is in front of the gaff point I swing smoothly out and away. My hand and arm make and uppercut punch type movement.

so on this over-under thing with agarcia and kickfish, in dunaway's book, he says reach over for a surface fish, under for a fish hanging under the surface.

don't know if that makes sense...

J

John,

If you get the gaff from the bottom and away from you.  You have more control over the fish.  We are running a 3 to 4 foot gaff and only one gaff.  And being so close to the water you don't want to miss and having the gaff flying towards you.  You never point a gun at you or stab a knife at you? Just my 2 cents.

Ken kickfish

I used this gaff and punisher combo to land my WSB and number of lings since.  I feel like I've got it dialed in and feel much more confident about using a gaff.

Sorry buddy, but I gotta ask...  after seeing your "dialed-in" efforts at Elk, what was your gaff job like before??!!!   


Chuck's unique method seems to be a cross between an axe-chop motion and playing cricket.  The full wind-up combined with his attempts to both gaff and club the fish at the same time didn't appear to work so well. 


I give your performance an 8 for style 
... and a 2 for fish-landing ability   

Fuzz, that was pretty much what I saw too.  Except I give him a "0" for fish-landing ability with a "modified" slap gaff.    

Maybe Freddie can chime in?  He was approx 150 yards away and witnessed the fish beating too.

JTF,
You should buy the fry master a beer.   Had he been truly "dialed in", the weigh in would have been very, very interesting.

Stuart

ouch, you guys are tough on ChuckE, I mean at least we don't have to see photos of him in short-shorts anymore,  .

he's really upped the fashion quotient of his photos with the hat and painted yak, that was pure style!

(note to self: do not blow any gaff attempts within 100 miles of fuzz or stu!).

Ken, I use the style where you put it under the fish and raise it smoothly when I gaff it myself. but a big thing for me is getting the fish on the right side of the boat, and gaffing/netting/grabbing with my right hand. try to gaff on the left
side of the boat is a lot less pretty.

But agarcia was probably taught on a boat, and maybe for surface fish like big striper or something, that might explain the difference in technique, one for surface fish off a boat, another for fish that try to hang deep?

Yes... I choked big time.... right in front off Fuzz, Stu, and Freddie.  What could be worse! 

WTF... was I thinking.  I hooked a nice ling, reeled it up to the boat, got impatient, and threw technique right out the door. 

Of course.... both Fuzz and Stu immediately tell me that ling would have placed in the derby.  What are friends for. 

Chuck,
As one of your "buddies", might I recommend any one of the following:



 
 Stuart

Uh, John, you had to be there.  It was BAD.  Very, very Bad.  So much so, that this thread needs to be revived!!!

Dude... the bad part is that I had a brand new collapsible Promar LN-704 landing net under the hatch that I never even took out.  I'll never make that mistake again in a derby.  If I had it out, at least I would have had a choice to use the net or the gaff.

Yes... I choked big time.... right in front off Fuzz, Stu, and Freddie.  What could be worse! 

WTF... was I thinking.  I hooked a nice ling, reeled it up to the boat, got impatient, and threw technique right out the door. 

Of course.... both Fuzz and Stu immediately tell me that ling would have placed in the derby.  What are friends for. 

I guess you could remind them you are leading the AOTY, http://aoty.ncka.org/ but I know you are too nice, so I'll point that out for you,  .

I'm pretty stoked I got to use my fancy folding net this year in the ocean for the 1st and only time. I did find that it is more or less out of the way and wind mostly folded up, but in a rod holder, ready for the 1-2-3 one-handed zorro-like unfolding thornely taught me with my own net!

J