Without a doubt, one of the most challenging aspects to landing a big fish when saltwater fishing is gaffing. I have extensive fishing experience through the east coast of the United States, the Bahamas, and the Caribbean, and I still miss a fish occasionally. With that being said, following specific steps will help you increase the likelihood of landing the fish in the final steps of the battle. Here is a step by step guide on how to gaff a fish.
Why Do You Gaff Fish
As an angler out of the northeast on the Great Lakes, I never gaffed a fish until my late teens. To be honest, I never understood the need or importance of gaffing saltwater gamefish over wrecks, deep dropping, or trolling.
Having spent eight years fishing remote locations, I have landed hundreds, if not thousands of fish. While not all fish require gaffing, a significant number do.
Unquestionably, anglers gaff fish headed to the fish box for the night’s dinner. Comparatively, a fishing net can only be constructed so big. Therefore, the gaff is designed to handle fish of nearly all sizes.
It should be noted that gaffs come in a multitude of hook sizes ranging from small to large. The size of the gaff is dependent on the size of the fish you target.
Fish are gaffed to lift them out of the water, onto the deck, and into the fish cooler. However, its more complex than it sounds when the boat is in motion, the fish is darting, and the angler is trying to ensure the hook is not pulled free.
How To Gaff A Fish: Follow These Steps
Ensure to follow these steps each and every time you’re gaffing a fish while trolling. The same techniques can be applied to bottom fish except for the boat in motion.
Keep The Gaff In An Easy To Reach Location
Without a doubt, the gaff must be easily accessible to the driver or the extra person aboard the boat.
Some of the most common places to store a gaff is in a T-Top rod holder or gunnel storage compartment. No matter which you choose, always know where the gaff is so you have it when it counts.
Remain Behind The Angler Until The Fish Is Close
The last thing you want to do is interfere with the angler as he is battling a fish off the back of the boat. For this reason, remain clear of the angler by standing behind them while the fish is off in the distance.
Take it from me; fish move from side to side and periodically make rod bending runs putting you at risk of getting smacked by the tip of the rod or having the line run across your body. Remain clear at all times.
Keep The Boat In Gear
Without a doubt, always keep the boat in gear when gaffing a fish. A boat that is left in idle reduces tension allowing the hook to come free. The hook comes free without tension because a hole is formed where the hook enters during the fight.
Additionally, the forward moment helps to guide the fish to the location most easy for gaffing. For these reasons, keep the boat in forward motion at all times.
Guide The Angler On Steering The Fish
The moments when the fish is along side the boat are critical. During this time, the fish is trying to pull free from the hook. For this reason, guiding the angler to direct the fish to a suitable gaff position is critical.
Importantly, the fish should be within reach along either the port or starboard side of the boat. Therefore, in combination with steering, direct the angler to move the fish to the desired spot for a successful gaff shot and landing.
Don’t Rush The Gaff Shot
Look I’ll be the first to admit time is critical when a fish is alongside the boat. However, don’t swing wildly, as you will only cause the hooked gamefish to move more erratically.
Instead of swinging and missing, leader the fish to the proper position so it is parallel to the side of the boat. Hold the gaff above the water until you’re ready to contact the tip. Always wait until the fish is in the correct position.
Aim Towards The Head
The best gaff shots are head shots when you’re planning to throw it in the ice box. A fish gaffed in the side of the flesh results in a wasted portion of fillets. However, you won’t always have 100% accuracy, so don’t worry.
I always try to aim between the eyes and the back of the gill plate. A gaff strike in this location preserves the flesh and makes a solid point of contact to lift the fish over the gunnel and into the boat.
Lift The Gaff Verticle
Always Always Always lift the gaff vertically after striking the fish and pulling it next to the boat. Shifting the gaff to a vertical position is essential when raising the fish out of the water. Comparatively, a fish that is lifted at an angle with the gaff tip pointing towards the water allows the fish to slide off the point and back into the sea.
Never Let Go Of The Gaff When The Fish Is Boated
Unquestionably, fish go berzerk when they are laid on the deck of a boat. The gaff that was in your hand will become a weapon as it flails from side to side wildly.
Every time you gaff a fish and place it on the deck, never let go of the handle. It is likely to cause injury to you or other passengers on the boat when left unattended.
Put The Fish In The Ice Box With The Gaff
Related to the above point above is to hold the gaff until the fish is guided into the fish box. Without a doubt, open the cooler or deck hatch, guide the tail of the fish into the ice, close the lid just behind where the gaff entered the fish, and remove the gaff.
I have followed this technique for years and have never had an issue with a fish going wild on the deck and putting someone at risk. Importantly, with the fish wedged in the lid, the gaff becomes controllable and easier to remove than a flopping fish.
Stow The Gaff
Finally, stow the gaff in the same easy to reach location. For this reason, you’ll be ready to sink a gaff in the next fish alongside the boat.
How To Gaff A Fish Is Made Simple
Following these steps will increase your likelihood of putting that big fish over the side and into the boat. The last thing you want to do is disappoint the angler by missing the gaff shot. However, a hook will come free from time to time. Lastly, remain patient and use caution because the gaff tip is sharp.
