Gaff tutorial?

Scarleg · Apr-30-2007, 10:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 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

YES......... you did miss the first two shots.....BONEHEAD

DaGoose · Apr-30-2007, 10:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scarleg

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.

TROB · May-01-2007, 10:28 AM

only thing i can add is to lead the fish, put your gaff where you want to stick him and wait for him to circle around, dorado are simple when they're doing their sideways cruise, when they get close(within 20ft) keep the angler where he is and the fish will arc right to you without freaking out....otherwise if it is right next to the boat see if you can dig a foot or two, anything under 8-10lbs is a pain in the ass anyways and i still hate em...
i go tip down 85 percent of the time, if i get anxious and it's just about to go under the boat i go tip up.

vegasman · May-01-2007, 12:46 PM

Jaydog got it right...it is up to the angler to give the gaffer a nice shot at sticking the fish...the dumbest thing an angler can do is back up from the rail at the last part of the fight...or to "high stick" the fish when it gets close to the boat...if you dont know what high sticking is you probably do it...a good angler should be able to gaff there own fish up to 40lbs...its called coordination and skill...

jughead · May-07-2007, 09:40 PM

That rules me out!!!!

**MikeyLikesIt** · May-07-2007, 10:17 PM

Id like to respond, but they dont even let me pick up a gaff........

wrenches, YES.

scrub brush, YES.

fillet knife, maybe.

gaff?

crazetuna · May-07-2007, 10:55 PM

Angling and Gaffing

The basic causes for a bait being taken and a fish not being landed can sometimes be bad angling technique. Not keeping constant tension on the fish is a common beginning angler mistake. Another common angler error is to allow the fish to rest. Standing there with an outstretched rod, with no drag flying off the reel, is enabling the tuna to use the current to rest as it rids its muscles of lactic acid. Unfortuantely tuna recover their strength quicker than we do, and constantly working the fish, keeping its head facing the boat, will result in a quicker landing.Tuna have a habit of running underneath an anchorred boat, requiring the angler to dip the rod tip under the water, to keep the line from hitting the hull or running gear. Also if the decision has been made not to get off the ball (stay anchorred), a rod may have to be carried up to the bow, under the anchor line, and back down the other side of the boat. Tuna should be followed from side to side in the cockpit, particularly with outboard motors, to keep the fish from running the line under the motors.

Another cause of a missed fish is poor gaffing technique. No other situation is more disappointing than losing a big tuna after a one or two hour fight. Bluefin literally fight to their death, and gaffing is a fairly easy chore. Don't rush the gaffing job, wait for their slow circles to bring them close to the surface, then make a clean shot, trying to gaff in the head, to avoid damaging the meat. Yellowfin are a little harder to gaff at the boat, but again patience till a good shot is allowed is the way to go. Keep in mind the refractive index of the water which makes the fish appear in different spot than it actually is. My technique is to let the pole of the gaff contact the fish, then quickly lift up.

Vet Craft Sport Fishing

Tight Lines...

albacore858 · May-08-2007, 03:55 PM

your not anchored very often while tuna fishing...

peto · May-25-2007, 11:06 AM

I gaff the fish in the uper part, just behind the gills, never through the belly, specialy if its a big fish. You risk tearing and loosing the fish. That means over and not under.

TurdRoller · May-25-2007, 01:42 PM

oh yeah and just stick the thing. if you hit in the middle of the meat, who gives a shit, you knock out about a baseball sized piece of meat out of 4 loins you will get from a tuna. get the fish in the boat regardless of where you stick it...but aiming for the head/shoulder is always nice

SoCalDoug · May-25-2007, 01:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WarpDrive

Jerking the head is what I do..................

i would like to suggest a "Top 10 quotes of the week" sub-forum

this phrase might just qualify.

sorry... thread hijack completed.

gecsr1 · May-25-2007, 02:18 PM

After a guy gaffed my boat.....Da.... Big Scratch,,,,, I put the point out, lower the gaff in the water along side the boat, one sweeping motion out and up, usally works everytime. if not panic anyway you can ......