need some input

[ChumSlickRick]

We always put a gaff behind the dorsal fin first and then one in the gills. Had a 6 footer jump into the boat with two gaffs in his head. Figured next time we should take his tail away from him first. The poon never really phases them, just makes them more pissed. Makos are no joke when there close to the boat.. Watch your hands and feet, but have fun. They are one of the most exciting fish to catch.

[Kamo Gari]

great info guys. I am a newb, so pardon my ignorance, but can you leagally carry a hand gun or shot gun on board?

Not trying to be a smartass, but if you're properly licensed, of course you are. Ever heard of duck hunting? Perhaps 90% of it is done from boats, with 99.999% of those doing the hunting using shotguns (a handful use a bow and arrow, which is the only legal method to hunt waterfowl other than with shotgun).

Sushi42, I hear you as far as not recommending firearms for those planning on using them irresponsibly, those prone to panic or unfamiliar with their use in any way. As I am none of the above, and licensed to carry most any type, I don't see it as a problem. Quite the opposite, actually. I carry one on a day to day basis anyway. The piece almost never comes out, of course, but with firearms, its one of those things where when you actually need one, you REALLY need one.

A couple of friends were tangling with a 14 foot shark just two weeks ago. Harpoon was bent into a pretzel and the gaffing was a disaster, and the gaff was lost overboard due to a freaking out fish post gaffing. They ended up losing the fish after several hours, even with it tailroped boatside at one point, as they had nothing in the old tool box to use after the first two methods failed. Had I been there with a trusty cannon, it'd have been game over for the fish. Friends I've fished with in Alaska won't even let size extra large halibut on the boat until they've been subdued by a blast to the noggin. Safer to haul a dead fish weighing a couple to a few hundred pounds that's dead or dying and stiffening up than one that's going to go positively apeshit when it hits the deck and 'wakes up'.

Other people's mileage may vary, but when chasing seamonsters, I lean strongly towards having one on board. As has been said by a wise man once upon a time, I'd much rather have one and not need it, than need one and not have it...

[rirockhound]

Actually, a couple of friends were tangling with a 14 foot shark just two weeks ago. Harpoon was bent into a pretzel and the gaffing was a disaster, and the gaff was lost overboard due to a freaking out fish.

What kind of shark?

[Kamo Gari]

What kind of shark?

Not a mako.

[rirockhound]

I figured... edible species at least?

[BarryTurano]

A flyer in the gill area and a straight forward of the tail to get the tail rope on. If you can put 2 straights near the tail it would prevent one guy from a severe beating from the gaff handle. But the flyer in the gills is/are key.

[doglover]

that is so nuts

Mine, a 110" at the fork specimen (estimated to be 642 lbs using the NE sharks chart on the site), took two loads of 12 ga # 6 shot to the head via bangstick, then was double gaffed and tailroped. 4 men could not get it in the boat. It was still alive 30 minutes later. By far it was the most powerful, the most obscenely acrobatic and flat out insane fighting fish I have even tied into. A likeness of her is on the wall next to me as I type, actually. Almost every day I look up, smile and say to myself, 'holy shit!'

Any future large makos brought to the boat will be shot multiple times with a large caliber handgun. They are not an animal to be toyed with or treated with kid gloves. Agree on the NE sharks site; it's very informative.

[Blood Slick]

Not trying to be a smartass, but if you're properly licensed, of course you are. Ever heard of duck hunting? Perhaps 90% of it is done from boats, with 99.999% of those doing the hunting using shotguns (a handful use a bow and arrow, which is the only legal method to hunt waterfowl other than with shotgun).

Well thanks for not being a smart ass. Let me clarify, can you legally carry a pistol or shot gun on a vessel going offshore where state boundaries will be crossed? I am not referring to hunting duck at a local state pond but rather caring in the open ocean?.

[Kamo Gari]

Well thanks for not being a smart ass. Let me clarify, can you legally carry a pistol or shot gun on a vessel going offshore where state boundaries will be crossed? I am not referring to hunting duck at a local state pond but rather caring in the open ocean?.

Just reread your question, and it occurs to me that you ask about 'state boundaries'. Three miles out+ and I believe you're in federal waters as far as jurisdiction (don't quote me on that), but if you're asking me literally about *interstate* transportation of firearms, as in, leave a port in MA and return to a port in RI/NY/CT/pick your state, I'd be *very* careful. Some states have reciprocity for cc, but many do not. If that was what you were asking, I suggest asking law enforcement people.

I am legal to carry concealed in MA and NH specifically by permit, but if I were to, say, be in NY with a concealed handgun on my person, I'd be in violation of NY statutory law (and in deep sheet) . Unless certain very specific conditions are met (mostly having to do with competition shooting and hunting), in some states arms need to be unloaded while being transported, and there are often requirements that need to be observed in order to be within the law. Example: I have a non-res hunting license for deer in Ny state. I can legally transport my *unloaded* long gun in a trunk, locked and cased, to hunt there, no prob. Bring a loaded handgun in a strong side shoulder rig en route and get stopped? Johnny Law's gonna' haul me off in chains.

HTH,

KG

[doglover]

thanks for that two gaffs

We always put a gaff behind the dorsal fin first and then one in the gills. Had a 6 footer jump into the boat with two gaffs in his head. Figured next time we should take his tail away from him first. The poon never really phases them, just makes them more pissed. Makos are no joke when there close to the boat.. Watch your hands and feet, but have fun. They are one of the most exciting fish to catch.