Landing Fish
Submitted by C.P on Sat, 2014-04-26 15:29
How do you bring fish into the boat? Gaff, landing net or just grab the trace & lift over the gunnel. I tend to do the latter for small to medium size fish but I have only a small boat & dont have a lot of room for gear to be at arms length. I dont usually carry a net. I have a gaff stowed near my feet but not easy to grab when theres a big fish flapping on the surface in front of me. I'm interested in others usual practice.
trymyluck
Posts: 908
Date Joined: 06/05/12
I prefer a small pole with a
I prefer a small pole with a large fish hook attached, 10/0 but lift most fish in. Im not a fan of nets or gaffs, they take up too much room and are unnecessary IMO
sea-kem
Posts: 14853
Date Joined: 30/11/09
Nets unnecessary?? They are
Nets unnecessary?? They are the best tool for landing fish that have to be released so as not to damage them. I have a big net that just lays up against the side of the gunnel no room taken at all. The only fish we gaff are the pelagics. Even the sharks are netted as it settles them somewhat and easier to get the sledge handle to the head.
Love the West!
petermac
Posts: 2946
Date Joined: 03/03/10
how can this be
I find my self agreeing with Sea-kem again (wtf how can that be) the days of just gaffing every thing are long gone enviro nets are the go especialy if you intend to release the fish
Vinesh87
Posts: 2751
Date Joined: 02/04/11
Yeh i net everything! Even a
Yeh i net everything!
Even a smaller net can land a big fish if need be!
MattMiller
Posts: 4171
Date Joined: 15/06/09
Same
Net just about everything except pelagics. Gaff comes out for them.
Must admit to being a fan of just grabbing Dhuies in the mouth though
meglodon
Posts: 5981
Date Joined: 17/06/10
As above
Big teeth = gaff
Molars no teeth = net
Hutch
Posts: 2221
Date Joined: 21/04/13
I net pretty much all my
I net pretty much all my fish except the small ones. Net slots into the gunnel nicely and easily accessible.
C.P
Posts: 345
Date Joined: 04/01/12
Nets it is then
I might install another rod holder to hold a net within reach . I've lost a few cuttle fish for lack of one. Cant remember dropping a fish at the boat but probably the day will come.
lastcast
Posts: 215
Date Joined: 04/04/13
one way to gaff
was out with my ex-deckie, ex pro-shooter cousin last week, a couple of big fish came aboard,
He gaffed them through the brain and brought them aboard dead.
Amazing to watch.
carnarvonite
Posts: 8627
Date Joined: 24/07/07
Net?
Have a gaff on board but cannot remember the last time it was used in anger.
Just lean over and grab the trace and lift them on board, if they fall off it means I'll get another chance to catch it again and save me having to pull the hook out.
Found years ago that nets take up room and cause hooks to get tangled in them so gave them up as a bad idea.
dumper
Posts: 1026
Date Joined: 03/04/08
Yup. Gaff if it's big or
Yup. Gaff if it's big or angry, otherwise leader It straight into the esky. I love watching people net squid. They let it sit there in the water blowin its load then they bring it on board thinking it's safe only to be covered in shit while trying to untangle the jig rom the net
sea-kem
Posts: 14853
Date Joined: 30/11/09
I have a big tough black
I have a big tough black enviro net. Never had a drama with hooks or tangles. And as I said it goes flat up against the side of the gunnel so always out of the way. I guess it's how you manage deck space too.
Love the West!
Dale
Posts: 7930
Date Joined: 13/09/05
Net
Net or Boga grips for me. Just depends what's on the end.
cheers
Dale
"Just because you are a Character, Doesn't mean you have Character."
Mr Wolf
C.P
Posts: 345
Date Joined: 04/01/12
Space is the issue
As sea- kem says, its about managing deck space. Problem is I dont have much of it. I fish alone most of the time so difficult to have every thing handy when the action is on. Thanks everyone for your comments.
outdoinit
Posts: 1009
Date Joined: 05/10/12
Gaff for bigger fish, but i like
nets for the like of barra etc.. I use one of those Frabil retract away nets and dont mind it, takes up very little room but sometimes can be a bit tricky to retract..
I've spent half my life fishing.. The other half I have wasted..
suggarman
Posts: 72
Date Joined: 13/10/13
gaff and tail grab
i usually gaff fish that are definitely keepers but i grab the pelegics by the tail to avoid hooks, teeth and broken line. any thing i condidder small i just lift over the side.
i dont net fish mainly because i find them anoying when they get tangled but i have tried them and found them a pain. i usually have a gaff at easy access with the buisnes end of it stowed under the drivers seat of our tinny to avoid it comming out and causing damage.
have a good one