Gaffing salmon

[spring fever]

I have a vague idea how this is done and I have tried the advance search with no luck. I have the 2 different types of gaffs on board-from a distance I have seen Osama and Kelly do it and it looks like a more efficient operation than my big net. If somebody who does it could explain it I would be most grateful.

 

[steel_dreamin]

Practice, practice... and aim for the eye.

Really helps if the boat is moving as the fish will lay on its side for you. If its not moving then you need a good rodsman or your going to be hand lining some.

 

[Tsquared]

The main thing to remember is once you strike you have to twist your wrist so the fish is hanging by it's own weight from the gaff as you bring it onboard otherwise they could flip off.
T2

 

[getbent]

I always worry about laying a stunning blow and knocking them off before you sink the gaff...practice like SD says

 

[hambone]

One swipe with the hook, or bonk then hook..... both ways work.

I'm not good at either lol.

 

[spring fever]

So you stun them first and then Gaff?

 

[hambone]

So you stun them first and then Gaff?

Ya, Ive fished with a guy who would give them a good club with with opposite side of the hook to stun them, then hook the fish. I think the pros just swing once though, with the hook and fling the fish in the boat.

I'm always worried about knocking them off the line injured... I think the best advice is to have the boat in gear.

One thing I don't have a clue about is large fish.... If its over 20 then what?

 

[Fish Assassin]

Can stun them first if they are well hooked. If not stick them thru the head and bring them in. Very Easy yet still many F it up. I just blew one the other day myself the rigger release clip wrapped around the gaff then I pulled the fish in to the boat the release clip pulled the fish off the gaff.

 

[tykkyt e blue]

another style.. instead of striking down ( risk knocking hook out ) try lowering the gaff into the water slightly below the fish and a quick pull up, drives point up into their head and continue lifting in one motion. If they're well hooked sometimes you can lift their head, when the fish 'glups' and gills open, you can slide the gaff point right into the gills and lift.

 

[reelfast]

we can't use a gaff on salmon this side of the line. unfortunately, most folks have a 'hairpin' gaff on board. while this was extensively used by the commercial troll fleet, it is a poor tool for this job. i would recommend getting a 'real' gaff to begin with. check out AFTCO stuff to see what they look like. probably a 2" gap is plenty for salmon. put the gaff in the water and strike in one motion. i would be aiming for the back below the dorsal fih. i have gaffed uncountable salt water fish in the tropics and this is the method that never fails.

 

[profisher]

I would advise to practice on pinks this summer so if you are messing up its not a nice big spring going to the bottom for the crabs.

 

[Fishingaccomplished]

All i can say is practice, people have there own ways that work them

 

[spring fever]

Fortunately I have a 3 man crew so while I try this this weekend the netter will be standing close by. Think I'll turn off the go-pro-don't want any "I can't believe he did that" vids showing up hereLOL

 

[Striper Sniper]

Gaffing is fine, unless you are the one that has to clean up all the blood in the boat.........

SS

 

[GDW]

I've only done it a couple times I agree the guys who have it down look a lot more efficient especially if your trying to land the fish solo. I haven't knocked a fish off yet but only by fluke I've missed and wacked the fish a couple times only to get it on the 2nd attempt.

Practicing on pinks is a good idea if you can nail a slimey, twisting, bleeding pink you'd think a spring would be easy.

 

[Degree of Freedom]

Fortunately I have a 3 man crew so while I try this this weekend the netter will be standing close by. Think I'll turn off the go-pro-don't want any "I can't believe he did that" vids showing up hereLOL

no...keep the camera rolling!

A buddy of mine tried to gaff a chum in Brown's Bay a couple years ago...right in the pack in prime time after a couple beers and with wet hands. Swing and a miss, the gaff soared through the air in a beauty arc and landed about 15 feet from the boat. There was a nice round of applause from a few of our neighbors

 

[Finished Business]

still learning myself but its coming along quick. The hardest part is that first few fish as your nerves of losing it while trying to gaff come into play. After a few successful strikes it all seems to start happening like clock work.

As far as blood in the boat, I gaff, and rest the gaff on the gunnel while they drip out over the side. Slice a gill and let em spill! I have yet to bonk them, because I want the heart to pump out as much blood as possible. Once they have a spike through the head they are pretty subdued at that point, or so is my experience...

Soon enough the net will be left at the dock.

 

[Birdsnest]

I used to gaff all the time but mostly just use the net these days on fish I will bonk.

When gaffing:

Keep the boat moving
Use one motion

In this video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aYERhlSn0Yk there are 3 gaff jobs(at: 2:10, 3:40, 4:25) that show the one motion gaff job. This is on tuna so when gaffing a salmon do not wrap the line around your hand or you will snap fish off but you should have to take the leader or flasher in your hand to steady the fish. I like to pinch the flasher between two fingers so that if the fish pulls hard it will get the flasher out of my fingers easily.
The person on the rod should:

stay ready if the fish bolts
keep slight line tension to the flasher
Have an eye on the fish

Lastly the pre-gaf-bonk on the head does not have to be very hard on springs. I have seen many guides us a reasonably light tap on the head to stun a spring prior to gaffing.
This is just me but never stop the boat when landing springs.
Gaffing is messy and over the years I have stopped doing it. I don't even gaff tunas anymore.

 

[Pippen]

I
Lastly the pre-gaf-bonk on the head does not have to be very hard on springs. I have seen many guides us a reasonably light tap on the head to stun a spring prior to gaffing..

No kidding......I was amazed a few years back when I saw how light of a tap it could be to stun them.

 

[spring fever]

The mess is probably the thing that will stop this little practise, both members of my crew like to keep the back deck clean(in case a party breaks out?). Still it's good to know how to do it for the odd double or triple header. Ever Hopeful!!!