Are Boga Grips worth the $$$$ ?
Submitted by Browny on Tue, 2011-08-16 14:27
I'm looking at getting a pair of the Boga Grips, and have seen a fair few other similar type items on the market.
Are the original Boga's worth the extra $$ spent??
There's a range of types I've seen, from cheapies at circa $30 that I'll steer clear of, but have also seen a s/steel look-a-like that is circa $150. This being still a fair wack cheaper than the 60lb Boga's that I've seen online.
Whats your opinions? 
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I just love Exmouth: Its a quaint little drinking town with a fishing problem!
hlokk
Posts: 4290
Date Joined: 04/04/08
I had a pair or arafura
I had a pair or arafura grips, they cost $20 from oceanside and lasted me about two years. Ones with the foam, not the rubber. Certainly not as smooth, but got the job done for a hell of a lot less than bogas. I use digital scales to weigh anything which are a lot more accurate, easier to use and have a bigger weight limit.
Dont know why they can cost so much. Would be good to see some quality mid range ones without the scales though. Shimano had some ones that were half the price, but then they put the prices up...
One plus side with cheapies is at least for a while you can see how often you use them before forking out for some forking expensive ones.
Luke R
Posts: 401
Date Joined: 03/01/09
ABSOLUTELY worth the
ABSOLUTELY worth the money,I'v had my pair for a good 3-4 years now and they are still in top nick. I use them every single time i go out and really can't fault them.
Can't see how digital scales would be more accurate considering bogas are IGFA rated but i could be wrong?
bouttime
Posts: 703
Date Joined: 27/07/06
I have a cheap pair that have
I have a cheap pair that have been on the boat for about 2yrs and still work well. Paid about $30. I can't see where the money is for the original Boga's. For the amount of times that I use them the cheap ones do the job. BTW have dropped them over the side connected to a fish and got them back luckily. If I dropped a pair of original Boga's I would be gutted.
Browny
Posts: 316
Date Joined: 04/01/11
Thanks for the quick
Thanks for the quick responses!
One other querie that I need cleared up in my mind is the shape of the actual lip grip section.
Some are flat and squared off somewhat, others I've viewed are pointy, and others look quite blunt.
I s'pose this goes to the pointy end of the discussion (scuse the pun!), but is one type better than another for actual grip?
(up till now, I've used a pair of large pointy nosed pliers with curved tip, and this has worked fine. - but not on toothy critters and the grey taxmen!)
I just love Exmouth: Its a quaint little drinking town with a fishing problem!
Webby
Posts: 835
Date Joined: 24/09/08
I had the cheapy berkly ones
I had the cheapy berkly ones and found with the rounded ends they were unreliable when lifting big fish over the side so now i dont trust em. there would be nothing worse than holding a prize fish over the side to bleed it and then it kicks free. havnt tried the bogas, not rich enough. just using a net now.
I live with fear every day... sometimes she lets me go fishing.
scottnofish
Posts: 1621
Date Joined: 28/08/07
definatly worth the money
use the all the time never had a fish slip out the jaws and the scales are 100% acurate
NOHA
Posts: 914
Date Joined: 24/06/07
But the question
Is not how good they are but are they worth it...
There is no doubting that they are the best lip grippers on the market but are they 6 times better than a set of berkleys??
If all you want is to grab a fish by the lip, others work just not quite as nice, and a small lip gaf is just as useful. Using the inbuilt scale is nice but hanging a live fish by the jaw is not best practice these days so any scale can weigh a dead fish and a cradle and any scale can do a live one.
I have the 60lb bogas, and I paid a lot for them, they hopefully will last me a lifetime. But I wouldn't buy them again if I lost them.
Twin turbo..V8 diesel..Ohh what a feeling!!
No Orange Hats Allowed
Feral
Posts: 1508
Date Joined: 01/11/06
whats wrong with a net ??
whats wrong with a net ?? its faster, easier and no mucking around trying to get hold of just the mouth .. maybe there are better for catch and relaease but i cant see how dead lifting a fish by its mouth can be good for it ..
jmo .. but if someone bought em onto my boat they can leave em in the cab and only use em to weight the fish once its onboard .. id be really upset if i lost a good fish at the tside because someone was stuffing around trying to get them in ..
hlokk
Posts: 4290
Date Joined: 04/04/08
Quite useful actually.
Quite useful actually. Sometimes the net breaks, sometimes its too small (e.g. big sambo). You can use the grips to hold the fish while on deck (to control them, when taking a photo, to open their lips to get hooks out). Is useful when you want to release a mackie as you can hold it there and get the hooks out safer (over boat or in if really needed). Can also use to swim fish at the side of the boat if you want to release them but need a bit of assistance?
That being said, I prefer a net as first choice, but grips can still be useful.
Simon C
Posts: 801
Date Joined: 01/05/07
Nets shit me, take up a heap
Nets shit me, take up a heap of room for a decent size one and once at that size they are hard to lift decent size fish in. I have a 60lb set of bogas from a group buy about 5 years ago. Would I replace them with the same, more than likely, are they worth the money, hmmm why do people buy stellas when a penn will do the same job most of the time.
Bodie
Posts: 3758
Date Joined: 05/11/07
Im with simon, nets get in
Im with simon, nets get in the way, and generally are not required.
Fishing metro catching dhus, snapper etc.. no need for the net at all. Up north well with the sharks you dont leave your fish in the water long enough anyway, just use heavy enough leader to lift it in :)
Browny
Posts: 316
Date Joined: 04/01/11
Thanks for opinions!Not sure
Thanks for opinions!
Not sure which way to jump yet, but appreciate everyones input.
I just love Exmouth: Its a quaint little drinking town with a fishing problem!
squidvicious1
Posts: 824
Date Joined: 22/07/10
boga's are only reliable as
boga's are only reliable as the landyard that mates dont use and loose the fish and boga's over board.