Gaffing salmon
- Thread starter spring fever
- Start date
medherring
Member
No kidding......I was amazed a few years back when I saw how light of a tap it could be to stun them.
Ahh the old bonk and gaff. The key is not to have too long a gaff either. Easier to handle and hit in the right spot. Now if you have a boat with high gunnels and you can't reach the water line get ready for a S*$#t show. Also watch out for coho as we all know they like to roll when they are beside the boat. Springs are actually easier because the stay fairly chill on their sides. But when looking at a 25lb + spring laying on its side don't miss and hit the back or even worse the leader!
Birdsnest
Well-Known Member
The gaff is a bit of a dangerous tool as well. I was clubbing a salmon with the handle end of the gaff once and poked the thing in my forearm about 2 inches.Ouch! I have also damaged the floor of my boat clubbing fish with it too. I now just use a proper club for bonking.
LiquidGuides01
Member
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8h7JC8hh2Vo Basically how its done except not 4 or 5 bonks lol
Cougar Gold
Member
Last summer, I told my daughter's boyfriend to gaff a salmon for me. He got leaning way out and swung so hard that he threw himself out of the boat. I netted the salmon and retrieved my wood handle gaff before getting him. Had some thoughts about leaving him but daughter and wife would not let me.
Charter Tofino
Well-Known Member
The method we use is keep the boat in gear, grab the leader (don't wrap incase fish runs), slowly pull in so the fish is on its side and swing downward through the gill plates. In one motion follow through, swing the fish in the boat directly into the box. Much easier than messing with a net, it lets you rack and stack when the bites on. I've seen highliners who prefer the bonk and gaff method though so its personal preference.
Here is a walkthrough
Here is a walkthrough
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Charter Tofino
Well-Known Member
Ideal shot placement is through both gills and out the other side.
JPS gaff face is priceless
Its effective in a double header like this. Net the big spring, drop the net and then gaff the teener.
JPS gaff face is priceless
Its effective in a double header like this. Net the big spring, drop the net and then gaff the teener.
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steel_dreamin
Member
You gaff it through the gills and it bleeds all over the place - vis a vis your last pic. Through the eyes and no blood.
Charter Tofino
Well-Known Member
That's the idea, bleed it out. A little blood on deck never hurt a fisherman, just hose down after. You're going to miss more fish or have too mess around to long at the side of the boat if you are trying to gaff such a small target.
steel_dreamin
Member
Fair enough, cutting the gills in the box works too.
Gear'n'beer!
Well-Known Member
I always Gaff When fishing alone. Usually net when I have someone with me to run it or the rod. When alone and the fish is a biggish one I make sure its plenty tired out laying beside the boat before it gets the lobotomy. I'm not too picky about location as long as its in the head where there is lots of holding power
the fog ducker
Well-Known Member
agree ,
if ya dont really care about the blood bath , giver ,
i use to use a gaff on everyting under 20 ish ,few to many lost on the larger fish for my liking ,
got sick of cleanin the blood trails up to the cockpit , and worse , down below in the cuddy
i rip em up in the fish well ta bleed them out , starting to get pretty good at tailin all fish by hand now ,
im not outt there fillin the tub as fast as i can like the pros , we take are time , keep what we need . bring back a fish or 2 : )
whatever works for ya i suppose!! i pull the hook while the net is still suspended in the air to prevent tangles ,
let the deck hands deal with it after that ...
id rather be drinkin beerz on the dock , than scrubbin blood stains for a few hours at the end of my trip ,
m2b
fd
if ya dont really care about the blood bath , giver ,
i use to use a gaff on everyting under 20 ish ,few to many lost on the larger fish for my liking ,
got sick of cleanin the blood trails up to the cockpit , and worse , down below in the cuddy
i rip em up in the fish well ta bleed them out , starting to get pretty good at tailin all fish by hand now ,
im not outt there fillin the tub as fast as i can like the pros , we take are time , keep what we need . bring back a fish or 2 : )
whatever works for ya i suppose!! i pull the hook while the net is still suspended in the air to prevent tangles ,
let the deck hands deal with it after that ...
id rather be drinkin beerz on the dock , than scrubbin blood stains for a few hours at the end of my trip ,
m2b
fd
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jeffywestcoast
Well-Known Member
I have seen the gaff and net failures, myself i haven't used the gaff enough to be comfortable, saw a real nice fish this year at the side of the boat and then with the failed gaff attempt it swam away with a busted leader and a yellowtail still firmly in its lip, even by myself i choose to wear the fish out and net them head first.
IronNoggin
Well-Known Member
Good pictorial Kelly! 
I've gaffed literally thousands of salmon from the Troller, and the method is pretty much as Kelly described and showed above. Aiming point is through the gill plate, and yes, this bleeds them out fast. I only bonk the larger ones prior to gaffing - seen too many go Ballistic when not done properly, with the result of unintentionally releasing a dying fish.
That said, it is rare for me to gaff a salmon on the sport rig - usually only with double hook-ups and the net is already busy.
There is always blood involved - this IS a Blood Sport after all!
I simply prefer to keep that to a dull roar on the nice white sports rigs!
Each to their own. Only other advise is Practice this a LOT if you intend to gaff the majority of your catch. Becomes downright easy after a spell...
Cheers,
Nog
I've gaffed literally thousands of salmon from the Troller, and the method is pretty much as Kelly described and showed above. Aiming point is through the gill plate, and yes, this bleeds them out fast. I only bonk the larger ones prior to gaffing - seen too many go Ballistic when not done properly, with the result of unintentionally releasing a dying fish.
That said, it is rare for me to gaff a salmon on the sport rig - usually only with double hook-ups and the net is already busy.
There is always blood involved - this IS a Blood Sport after all!
I simply prefer to keep that to a dull roar on the nice white sports rigs!
Each to their own. Only other advise is Practice this a LOT if you intend to gaff the majority of your catch. Becomes downright easy after a spell...
Cheers,
Nog
Red Monster
Well-Known Member
The gaff is a wonderful tool which I often employ as great a motivation for the guy on the net to NOT SCREW UP AGAIN. Works every time. 
jeffywestcoast
Well-Known Member
haha , went fishing with a buddy last year and he told me this as i was about to net his decent spring "before you net this salmon remember the outcome determines weather or not you come out on the boat again" tough crowd on some boats.. i think it is alot easier to mess it up with the gaff myself but to each their own i guess.
the 'hairpin' gaff was an invention of the troll fleet. these folks were single handing their boats and needed a quick way to bring fish aboard. it is meant to be used with a downward motion, sort of like driiving nails. it would seem that this flavor gaff is favored in the PNW and not at all common anywhere else. i have one onboard but have move over to the AFTCO gaffs, super sharp and i have yet to screw this up. with salmon, i only use a net, however, whether alone or with others.
