Will this DIY spear gaff work for halibut?

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

I would love that courage, that salmonoid better be tuckered out at time of critical game time time moment, you can do it, not sure bout me, maybe practice on second fish...

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

I would love that courage, that salmonoid better be tuckered out at time of critical game time time moment, you can do it, not sure bout me, maybe practice on second fish...

I too would be very impressed with the courage of gaffing a salmon from the yak.  I guess if you lose enough of them boatside, you will be in F-it mode and not give a rats ass about losing another one... thats when the gaff comes out!   

For salmon, isn't there a risk that you catch a coho salmon you aren't allowed to keep? Or is it very obvious which species it is?

For salmon, isn't there a risk that you catch a coho salmon you aren't allowed to keep? Or is it very obvious which species it is?

I don't think someone should gaff a salmon if they don't have their salmon ID down cold.  It's certainly not obvious to the untrained eye, and I've seen plenty of coho on the cleaning table at Shelter Cove, even seen people clean coho in front of the game warden on more than one occasion. 

Stick to netting them until you can tell the difference in the water.  There's plenty of cues.  Spots on the back, tail, purple hue vs. green hue, how they fight, how they jump, what depth you caught them, etc.  When the silvers are in thick at trinidad you can catch 5 or 6 coho for each chinook.  Those days are kind of frustrating, especially when most of the silvers are hatchery marked and you still can't keep them.

For salmon, isn't there a risk that you catch a coho salmon you aren't allowed to keep? Or is it very obvious which species it is?

I don't think someone should gaff a salmon if they don't have their salmon ID down cold.  It's certainly not obvious to the untrained eye, and I've seen plenty of coho on the cleaning table at Shelter Cove, even seen people clean coho in front of the game warden on more than one occasion. 

Stick to netting them until you can tell the difference in the water.  There's plenty of cues.  Spots on the back, tail, purple hue vs. green hue, how they fight, how they jump, what depth you caught them, etc.  When the silvers are in thick at trinidad you can catch 5 or 6 coho for each chinook.  Those days are kind of frustrating, especially when most of the silvers are hatchery marked and you still can't keep them.

+1   

I think where it gets really tricky without a ton of experience is in the 20' to 26" range.  This would be a small fish to be gaffing, but may be a keeper chinook.  If the salmon you are fighting is very large and powerful, odds are you will get several good looks at it before it is ready to be netted of gaffed... much easier to make the call.  But honestly, the number of times I have been hooked up to a beast chinook is not enough yet for me not to use a net - I lost two big salmon last season trying to net the fish... gaffing would be really asking for heartache.   

Correct me if I am wrong, I recalled it's illegal to gaff Salmon.

Correct me if I am wrong, I recalled it's illegal to gaff Salmon.

I stand corrected!  Found an old post with this topic:

http://www.norcalkayakanglers.com/index.php?topic=53621.0

Aside from using a spear being illegal in Ca I’d say using that particular spear isn’t going to end well for you or the fish when it slips off and makes a run for the bottom.  I used a spear and a gaff to stab and land yellowfin when I kayaked in Hawaii, the spear point was a piece of sharpened threaded rod and the yellowfins bony skull made the threaded rod stick and it worked well.  That fish was dead tired though after coming up from 350’ down so it didn’t have much fight left in it, I’ve had many large and small halibut go f*ing nuts alongside the kayak and there’s no way I’d want a sharp metal pointy thing other than my gaff added to the mix.  Just my thoughts.


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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?

They are not legl for California halibut.  that's probly why you don't see them.

Pacific halibut yes, CA halibut no.

Bushy

For salmon, isn't there a risk that you catch a coho salmon you aren't allowed to keep? Or is it very obvious which species it is?

I don't think someone should gaff a salmon if they don't have their salmon ID down cold.  It's certainly not obvious to the untrained eye, and I've seen plenty of coho on the cleaning table at Shelter Cove, even seen people clean coho in front of the game warden on more than one occasion. 

Stick to netting them until you can tell the difference in the water.  There's plenty of cues.  Spots on the back, tail, purple hue vs. green hue, how they fight, how they jump, what depth you caught them, etc.  When the silvers are in thick at trinidad you can catch 5 or 6 coho for each chinook.  Those days are kind of frustrating, especially when most of the silvers are hatchery marked and you still can't keep them.

Yep-not something I would do haphazardly. And I'm pretty confident in salmon ID world. Luckily we have a few less silvers down here...

They are not legl for California halibut.  that's probly why you don't see them.

Pacific halibut yes, CA halibut no.

Bushy

I don’t think that is entirely clear. My reading of the regs is that a kage should be legal regardless of species, but as crash points out, you’d likely get a ticket that you’d have to fight. Personally, I cannot see how a wireman’s gaff could be legal and a kage not. Anyways, fighting such a ticket sounds like a good time to me, so maybe I’ll give it a try this year. Anybody know of good DIY kage plans?

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?

They are illegal for CA halibut.  No ambiguity.  I'll give you a gaff, I have a few in the garage .

And, friends don't let friends net legal-sized halibut.

Bushy

Anybody know of good DIY kage plans?

I’ve made a couple basic ones. Hickory axe handle cut to your desired length. Get 24” of 10/24 threaded stock. Grind a point on one end. Use a dowling jig and drill a 12” hole in the center of the handle. Set the threaded stock in the handle with expanding gorilla glue.

Hit the handle with at least 3 coats of marine spar. Wrap the handle in paracord. Go fishing.

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?

They are illegal for CA halibut.  No ambiguity.  I'll give you a gaff, I have a few in the garage .

And, friends don't let friends net legal-sized halibut.

Bushy

Then so are nets.