DIY Fish Bonker?

I have a bonker made from an old shovel handle.  I don't ever use it.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01DPEDAOK/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

An option to a bonker is a screwdriver blade or needle nose pliers in the brain.  Often easier than beating a fish, especially halibut.

Yeah? I was worried about the accidental leg stab factor, but it may be that the stab is not as hard as I think it is.

If the fish is big enough, grab it by the throat.  Big lings and cabs have gill rakers that will cut the shit out of your fingers (I seem to get excited and forget this every time).  Brain spike, then wiggle the blade until they tense up and flare fins, then fully relax. 

I've never had one wake back up after a proper braining. 

You don't need to swing the knife like a maniac, use controlled movements.  Cut gills right away. 

Honestly, I use my bonker maybe once or twice if there's a crazy ling wrapped up in my net weird. I always have my floating SF Giants bat I got in 5th grade when I go out on the water, but I usually just grab my jighead and put it on a clip and cut the gills, or lip grip to clip.

Hickory replacement hammer handle.  Cheap in any hardware store.  Cut off the end that would go into the hammer head, drill a hole for a lanyard and there you go - and it fits nicely in one of the in-hull flush mount rod holders.

IMO  bamboo makes  the best bonkers. Cheap, light, hard and with built it air pocket to keep it floating.
 Bonking has mixed results. The fish tend to wake up at exactly the wrong moment thrash their way out of the net and back into the water. Lost a couple big Lings that way. I've taken to putting the point of my gaff between the eyes and giving the base of the U bend a good whack with my palm . Then stir it around to make sure you get the brain. Quick way to end it.

Lot of good options on this thread. You can watch video here about ikejime and what the fish is doing when it's flexing/moving after being spiked. I also don't love spiking fish in the head when im on the kayak, too afraid of self inflicted damage. I usually put anything big on a stringer first, then bonk it with a homemade gaff from a 1.5" dowel and a long roofing nail bent and sharpened on a grinder, then cut the kills while the hearts pumping but the fish is brain dead

I lip grip em, put them on my stringer, then give them a good whack or 2 with the lip gripper before cutting the gills.  Thats why I prefer metal lip grippers... dual purpose.   

My favorite bonker was a piece of driftwood I found floating in the sea while fishing. Perfect length and diameter, with a knot right where the bonking happens. Somehow I lost it this year and had to replace it with a stick of firewood (limb of wax myrtle).

There's no reason to ever buy one.

I use a rubber mallet from dollar store. Small and handy. I can't make anything cheaper than a dollar and worked so well.

Aluminum bike seat post, hole on the smooth end with electrical tape for a handle, lanyard through the hole. The seat end has a raised lip to it for a smaller impact area.

I read that the point of bonking was to knock the fish out - not kill it. Then snip the gills and bleed it. This was supposedly the humane ways to dispatch a fish.

Currently using a 9”long piece of metal conduit pipe, they’re usually used for protecting Electrical wires.
 Imagine a piece of 1&1/2”-2” PVC pipe would work great too. Both of options are super cheap at homechepo.

I use a dive spike stringer. Simultaneously puts a spike through the brain and secures them to the kayak.Then rip the gills and gut them: done and done. Bonker is one less piece of gear to carry.

My long needle nose pliers have enough weight to them to knock out a fish. The jaws essentially form a shaft when closed, and I whack them mid-shaft where it is thickest. Learned that from a salmon guide in Alaska.