Let's talk gaffs....

[Sandy K]

I'm in the process of outfitting the boat for offshore fishing. Have the Penn Int'ls 30 VSWs spooled with 50 lb mono, bought 30-80lb 5'6" Harlee stand-up rods - have all the approriate terminal tackle for sharking now and tuna later in the season.

Now I figure I need to get a gaff or two. We plan to start out shark fishing - probably head out the the area of the Glory Hole - chumming and using bluefish fillets. So the question now becomes what type of gaffs do we get? Regular or do I really need flying gaffs? Also, is a tailer necessary?

Thanks.

[Dick_Formula233]

You match your gaff(s) to the fish you plan to stick with it. How big a fish do you plan tobring in the boat, anddo you have places to stow them onthe boat?

Long handles can be a real pain in smaller boats. The hook gap shouldreach about 2/3 of the way to the lateral line just behind the gill plate, so it sinks in the meaty part of the shoulder.

You probably won't be needing a flyer unless you're dealing with fish over 150 lb or so. A Poon harpoon might be a better choice. You may not have many opportunities to reallytest either of them fishing with 30's

[35donzi]

Have a couple regular gaffs and a flyers or harpoon. If you catch a big thresher or mako you will not beable to land it with out a flyer or harpoon. As dick_formula said poon harpoons are the best. As far as the 30s they are good for tuna fishing but a bigger thresher or mako would probably spool you. What you could do is load them up with 50-60 pound braid and then add a mono top shot. This will allow for a lot more line on those 30s.

[ant1]

The only sharks you should be gaffing are Mako's and Thresher,cut the blue sharks off.
Both of these fish are wild fighters and can land in the boat,if you are not paying attention,but you probably know this already.Always start the boat when you have one of these suckers on.Gaffs.We always have 2 straight and one flying.Fly gaffs are dangerous and and can come out of the fish and potentially hit you,so be sure to land a deep shot.You really need to tire a Mako out,never bring one in the boat that is alive,nasty things can happen.After the fly gaff,another man needs to land a straight in the fish,then you need to put a tail rope on that fish,which is no joke either.Then make sure it's dead,beforeyou bring it on.Thresher can whip you with their tail,so pay attention to it.Catching Mako's always brings an adrenaline rush,wait til you see one of these things skyrocket into the air,you'll be hooked.

[Sandy K]

Boat is 40' with a 13.5' beam - plenty of room in the in-deck fish box, so size of boat is not an issue here. I figure if we can get a line around the tail of a mako or thresher, then we'll drown 'em by pulling 'em backwards for at least 15 miles. Sounds like our best bet is to start off with 2 6' straight gaffs with large hooks at the business end and then go from there...

[35donzi]

I would keep a fly gaff on board or if you think it to dangerous a harpoon. if you get a fish in the 200 plus he will kick your ass the boats and you will lose the fish. you can not control them with the straights.

[capt josh]

We use Barefoot gaffs exclusively for our fixed gaff applications...

www.fishingbarefoot.com

[makomadness]

you relly need a flyer on the boat. when i first started i looked at the price of them and said i can do with out it. my first mako that came to the boat was around 250 not only did it beat my boat broke my gunnel rail I could not get a tail rope on him and it was complete caos. we ended up sticking the fish and had to cut him free before he sank my boat. it is very important to have all the proper equiptment before you set out after sharks...after all you never know what will come up your slick...just my opinion

[Jim31]

Get your gaffs, straight, flying, and tailer, then start working on getting some 50's.

[Codfisher]

Check out southchathamtackle.com. They make a high quality SS custom flying gaff/harpoon combo that is very reasonably priced. I am very pleased with their product.

[CB Haws]

Yes your choice of 30's with 50# is too light for sharks, ok for tuna. The only time I use fly gaffs is in IFGA Tourny's; otherwise it is a Poon and the stainless steel tail rope. Watch out for the T's Teeth and Tails.
Back to the Reels. 30STW are a total waste of money. Why do you need a two speed when you can only 30# max drag? You don't. I can turn the crank against a 50TW with 40# of drag . If you can turn the crank against the drag you can't get any line so a two speed does no good. Now all my 80's are 80STW's. The only use for a two speed on lighter reels is so you can bring the trolling baits in faster, BFD

[platon]

Sandy K, if you or anyone in the area needs an extra man i'm 40 min from belmar and i have my own equipment and can go with a nights notice geniehome@aol.com thanks Plato

[offshore3144]

No one that fishes with me likes my 8ft gaff. When they gaff and bring a fish to the front fish box they always hit the outriggers with the butt end!! I guess I am used to it. Istill like the 8ft gaff. I like to reach out and touch them when they get close enough.....Mark

[auguste]

offshore3144 - 6/12/2007 8:06 PM No one that fishes with me likes my 8 ft gaff. When they gaff and bring a fish to the front fish box they always hit the outriggers with the butt end!! I guess I am used to it. Istill like the 8ft gaff. I like to reach out and touch them when they get close enough.....Mark

Gaffs should be at least 7 ft tall so that when someone is leaning on it (and they will) with the butt end on the deck, the hook is way up there . . . major safety issue

Longer gaffs also mean that you are not leaning over the boat as far . . . makes for a much more mobile gaff persons

Het a gaff with a 3/8 inch hook and either a 4 inch or 5 inch opening . . . a large fish will not open your gaff . . . not more than $20 more than a gaff with a much smaller hook

Use the stainless steel springs rather than the plastic tubing as a gaff guard . . . much safer to use

You want al least two gaffs so someone can help with really large fish

I stick my gaffs into my rocket launchers so that they are close by but safely out of the way

DO NOT let a careless person handle your gaffs . . . I have a guy who fishesnow and thenwith me and he is not allowed to touch a gaff . . . he is just too excitable

[Bullshipper]

I don't shark anymore as its against the law to carry a weapon on board in Mexico to gaff and shoot them with prior to bringing them on board. But an SS 38 stubby and a couple of 6' gaffs with 4" diameter hooks always did the job for me back when.

I also don't think that pound for pound sharks are big fighters. This +500 thresher was taken on a little avet jx, and a 2 speed 30 is 50% more reel, but again, just my opinion.

[Dick_Formula233]

Bullshipper - 6/14/2007 12:05 AM

This +500 thresher...

Bullshipper,

How did you get a 500 pounder in the back of your boat... sink it, pull the fish over the side, pump the water out???

[auguste]

Dick_Formula233 - 6/14/2007 10:13 AM

Bullshipper,

How did you get a 500 pounder in the back of your boat... sink it, pull the fish over the side, pump the water out???

That is hilarious . . . . . . THANKS, I needed a good laugh

[Bullshipper]

The photo shows a fish caught by another angler.
The fish is in the process of birthing a calf
The fish was pulled home in the water
The fish was placed in the boat with several helpers

[WildLines]

Get a 6 / 4 Gaff

6' Long with a 4" Hook

Keep 2 on the boat, plus one smaller Gaff like a 3' with a 3" hook

[tunaorlater]

30STW's area total waist of money?? I think not, 95% of the fish he will come across will not be a problem with that reel. I would have a flyer on board or plan on realeasing anything you can't handle with a straight gaff.