Will this DIY spear gaff work for halibut?

I used an old 2' hand drill bit, ground the point, electrical taped it to a 3' wooden handle and added flotation. The full length is just under 4'. I wish I had a big halibut to try it on. I've never used a gaff of any kind. Suggestions on how to use it and what problems I might encounter are welcome.

Bill

That will pull out. These aren’t Alaskan barn doors, no need for theatrics out there. Get a real gaff.

That will pull out. These aren’t Alaskan barn doors, no need for theatrics out there. Get a real gaff.

...but save that for the Zombie Apoclypse

think you'd be better off using a hooked gaff so a big butt doesn't come off. Also, if that thing isn't stainless steel, you'll be cleaning/grinding that thing consistently.

This is the year, I commit to becoming a master gaffer again.  I always reach for my net first out of familiarity but the gaff is much cleaner if done right.  I think some spear gaff guys use the tip with the lock flap thingy to assist in stickage...

This is the year, I commit to becoming a master gaffer again.  I always reach for my net first out of familiarity but the gaff is much cleaner if done right.  I think some spear gaff guys use the tip with the lock flap thingy to assist in stickage...

oh please ..those Flatties jump in your net on command..cant resist the harmonica   

Yes, when I blow a “flat E” they donate their life to the charm of the "harm"

Arguably illegal, would t be surprised if an overzealous enforcement officer wrote a ticket for that.

Search “kage” for more information and discussion.

Since forums return only results for "pacKAGE" when you search for "kage", you need to use google search like so:
site:norcalkayakanglers.com kage

This is the year, I commit to becoming a master gaffer again.  I always reach for my net first out of familiarity but the gaff is much cleaner if done right.  I think some spear gaff guys use the tip with the lock flap thingy to assist in stickage...

oh please ..those Flatties jump in your net on command..cant resist the harmonica   

Yes, when I blow a flat E they donate their life to the charm of the "harm"

   ..and so much for a thread jack....

Oooo. Don’t make me change my handle...”Threddiejack”...

Not legal for CA Halibut, (at the very least, you would be at a disadvantage trying to argue it's a gaff and not a spear).

This comes up every year or two, I'd recommend building a standard gaff.

https://californiaoutdoors.wordpress.com/2016/03/24/kage-hawaiian-spear-gaff-spear-or-gaff/

http://www.norcalkayakanglers.com/index.php?topic=84028.15
http://www.norcalkayakanglers.com/index.php?topic=56548.0
http://www.norcalkayakanglers.com/index.php?topic=71506.0

Thanks for all the informative comments on my DIY spear gaff.
Is the uncertain legality of a kage (spear) gaff in California the main reason they are rare here? Or are they not well suited to the type of fish we need to land with a gaff in California? Is Hawaii the exception in allowing kage gaffs to be used for landing a hooked fish?

Thanks for all the informative comments on my DIY spear gaff.
Is the uncertain legality of a kage (spear) gaff in California the main reason they are rare here? Or are they not well suited to the type of fish we need to land with a gaff in California? Is Hawaii the exception in allowing kage gaffs to be used for landing a hooked fish?

Not sure how much you went into the archives, but the basic problem is this:

Carrie Wilson, a DFW senior biologist with a weekly Q&A column, has written in that kages are not legal to take anything except rays, skates and sharks.

https://californiaoutdoors.wordpress.com/2016/03/24/kage-hawaiian-spear-gaff-spear-or-gaff/

I think she is wrong.  I think that because a kage is indeed a gaff.  It is used the same way a gaff is used.  It is not thrown or otherwise used as a projectile, which spears, harpoons, and bow and arrow tackle all are (a polespear is the closest gray area, but it is clearly spearfishing gear, not used as a gaff ever by anyone that I've ever heard).  Just because we call it a "harpoon" doesn't make it a harpoon for law enforcement purposes.  Nobody throws a kage.  It wouldn't work very well.

With that Carrie Wilson article still out there, I would not be at all surprised to see a ticket written for using a kage.  Just because I think I can beat a ticket for it doesn't mean that I'm right.  I could be wrong.  But I use a kage when I'm in Humboldt and I'm willing to fight the ticket.  I don't use them elsewhere in California because I'm not willing to travel to fight that ticket.

That's pretty well the state of the legality of the kage in California.  The senior biologist who writes the public Q&A column says they are illegal.  She said that 5 years ago and hasn't retracted or changed the article.  She has done that in the past when something she wrote was demonstrably wrong.  Since she hasn't done that, DFW feels pretty good about their interpretation so that's why I say a ticket for using one wouldn't surprise me.  She has stopped using the phrase "integral part of take' though, and I'd like to take credit for that.

This is the year, I commit to becoming a master gaffer again.  I always reach for my net first out of familiarity but the gaff is much cleaner if done right.  I think some spear gaff guys use the tip with the lock flap thingy to assist in stickage...

I dunno, my net hasn’t failed me yet. Even with a big one or two. Hell I’ve even lip gripped a 39 and 36 incher, but I really don’t suggest that 

This is the year, I commit to becoming a master gaffer again.  I always reach for my net first out of familiarity but the gaff is much cleaner if done right.  I think some spear gaff guys use the tip with the lock flap thingy to assist in stickage...

I dunno, my net hasn’t failed me yet. Even with a big one or two. Hell I’ve even lip gripped a 39 and 36 incher, but I really don’t suggest that 

gaff costs less (like $8 for gaff hook + old broomstick = gaff), no tangles at all with gaff, less commotion no splashing no fish banging on kayak so less likely boats will pull up on you, larger range where you can gaff the fish, less gear space taken up on kayak, faster turnaround to get back fishing (I can gaff a fish, put on clip, spike, cut gills, and be back in the water in ~2 mins max), and also it's super satisfying. Never will go back to a net for flatties gaff is just too much fun and way cleaner

This is the year, I commit to becoming a master gaffer again.  I always reach for my net first out of familiarity but the gaff is much cleaner if done right.  I think some spear gaff guys use the tip with the lock flap thingy to assist in stickage...

I dunno, my net hasn’t failed me yet. Even with a big one or two. Hell I’ve even lip gripped a 39 and 36 incher, but I really don’t suggest that 

gaff costs less (like $8 for gaff hook + old broomstick = gaff), no tangles at all with gaff, less commotion no splashing no fish banging on kayak so less likely boats will pull up on you, larger range where you can gaff the fish, less gear space taken up on kayak, faster turnaround to get back fishing (I can gaff a fish, put on clip, spike, cut gills, and be back in the water in ~2 mins max), and also it's super satisfying. Never will go back to a net for flatties gaff is just too much fun and way cleaner

All a matter of personal choice-I definitely prefer the gaff for many of the reasons above, and have botched many net jobs. In fact, I am committing to the gaff for salmon this year after some nightmare losses at the net last season. It seems to me that a gaff for salmon would be much easier that high-sticking into the net