Gaff tutorial?

[Az.monkey]

Stick, twist, lift and watch the fish, or run like a lil bitch and hope it turns out well

[lethalinjection]

Just stick em! after a few hundred you don't even think about it.
just make sure the angler does not lift the head out of water.that makes it a bit more difficult... em then again I have seen some very ugly gaffing
techniques...

[Tunaslayer Zero]

FUCk the Gaff just lippem no pop that bitch with the gaff but if can't hitem in the head u should have a fish wacker with ecspecially with dorado
thats if u can't gaff

[TurdRoller]

Originally Posted by Tunaslayer Zero

FUCk the Gaff just lippem no pop that bitch with the gaff but if can't hitem in the head u should have a fish wacker with ecspecially with dorado
thats if u can't gaff

exactly what he said!!!

[the hook]

point down, smooth pull.

I wouldn't pause if you can help it, fish might flop just then.

For halibut, I hear tha gaffing in the belly calms them right down

[michael]

Some sound advice already posted.
One tip I'd like to add, especially with dorado, don't put the gaff in the water until right before you stick the fish.
Dodo's will go ape shit if they see the hook of the gaff in the water.
One smooth motion, drop, stick, lift. That's what I learned and what has worked for me.

[Jaydog]

More important than if you go over or under (I alway's go over) is the position of the fish, an angler can make a gaff shot real easy or real difficult for a crew member. You want your angler to lay that fish down as close to the boat as possible without lifting it's head out of the water. If the fish is layed out the gaff shot should be fairly simple... Dorado are a pain in the ass and like someone allready stated alway's go for the head reason being- it's a long slim fish and if gaffed in the center it will freak out and dance right off that gaff!!!

[TurdRoller]

Originally Posted by Jaydog

an angler can make a gaff shot real easy or real difficult for a crew member. Dorado are a pain in the ass and like someone allready stated alway's go for the head reason being- it's a long slim fish and if gaffed in the center it will freak out and dance right off that gaff!!!

so true about makin it easy or difficult for crew. I prefer sticking dorado (and all other fish) just a few inches behind their head, as i have witnessed plenty of dorado ripping out after getting stuck in the head (they were probably stuck in the mouth or something) so i stay on the safe side. the shoulder is thick and meaty and most fish won't pop off after gettin stuck there.

[Az.monkey]

Make sure the gaff is not in front of the line

[Double Z]

swing wildly until the line snaps, call it a good release and move on.

[Az.monkey]

Originally Posted by Double Z

swing wildly until the line snaps, call it a good release and move on.

Classic

[DaGoose]

NEVER gaff a halibut in the head. It's too hard and boney and the hook pulls halfway to the rail. I try to stick em in the shoulder or belly just behind the head, going over the top, depending on if she's a lefty or righty.

It helps a bunch too if the angler lays em out nice and flat. Our drill is to always get the fish to the surface (head in the water) at the back corner of the boat. Then the angler walks towards the bow and the gaffman is ready to slide in behind for the stick.

Plus always keep a flattie hanging on the gaff until ready to securely stow her. They go ballistic loose on the deck and it can be dangerous.

Hope this helps someone.

But WTF do I know, missed two shots on two fish yesterday.


Rick