gaffing question...

[SNAKE EYES SPORTFISHING]

ok, i might hear some shit about this but i dont care. now i just watched a show on the tv. and every fish was gaffed right in the middle of the filet, why is this, why not take your time and get a nice head shot. is it the need to get the fish in the boat, is it lack of ability, or do they just not care, now like i said , im just wondering, id rather do it myself than have someone poke a hole in the middle of my fish..i never did understand why anyone would do this, lets face it every time you poke the filet that meat is cut out and wasted. so why not just take your time and whack em in the head..i promise thats where im hittin that ******* in the head or ot at all...ok im done now , thanks for listening....dave

[92 feet down]

I'll go with... lack of ability.

[WAHOONBOX]

YOU NEED TO SPEND MORE TIME ON THE WATER WITH A GAFF IN YOUR HAND BRO....

IF A MAN SITS AROUND WITH ME WITH A GAFF IN HIS HAND AND WAITS FOR A "HEADSHOT" ...THAT MAN WILL NEVER HOLD MY GAFF AGAIN....NEVER...IN FACT...

MY PAST EXPERIENCE AND GOAL IS TO PUT DAMEATNDABOX.....FOR EXPLAINING TO THE PEOPLE BEHIND ME WHY I SCREWED AROUND WAITING ON A HEADSHOT AFTER THE HOOK PULLED IS NOT EXACTLY MY CUP OF DIET DR PEPPER....


ON A REALISTIC NOTE....TRY LIFTING A 100 LB TUNA OR A 70 POUND WAHOO IN THE BOAT WITH A HEADSHOT....I CALL BULLSHIT TO ANY MAN WHO SAYS THAT IS EASY

AND IF A MAN CONTINUES TO MAKE HEADSHOTS ON A WAHOO...I PROMISE HIM ONE DAY HE WILL REGRET DOING THIS.


MY MAIN TARGET IS THE MIDDLE OF THE STOMACH....BUT IT DOESN'T ALWAYS WORK THAT WAY FOR ME....AND IF I DO MAKE A HEADSHOT IT IS NOT BECAUSE I WAS TRYING TO...IT IS BECAUSE THAT IS WHERE THE GAFFHEAD LUCKILY LANDED FOR THAT IS NOT MY PRIMARY TARGET

I WANT TO SEE A MAN MAKE A HEAD SHOT ON A 400 LB TUNA.....I BET IT BOUNCES OFF A FEW TIMES BEFORE HE FINALLY REALIZES THAT THE HEAD IS MADE OF CONCRETE & STEEL.



TAIL, BACKSTRAP, HEAD, STOMACH, GILL, OR DORSAL,...I DON'T CARE WHERE THE ENTRY POINT IS AS LONG AS IT MAKES AN ENTRY....

[SNAKE EYES SPORTFISHING]

id love to spend more time on the water, but my job is on dry land, like i said i dont care where you gaff your fish, thats youe bussiness but we generally hook them in the mouth and the first thing that comes to the boat is ther head, thats where i like to hit the bastards, but let me explain the tv show was fighting 20-25 lb mahis, right to the boat no problem getting a head shot, i guess thats why i ranted, peace.

[Nauti Natured]

When I am gaffing, I am swinging for the fences. I just want the damn fish in the boat. A green, excited fish WILL get off the hook or break the leader if you give it time. I would rather deal with the hole in the meat than lose the fish all together.

[92 feet down]

YOU NEED TO SPEND MORE TIME ON THE WATER WITH A GAFF IN YOUR HAND BRO....

IF A MAN SITS AROUND WITH ME WITH A GAFF IN HIS HAND AND WAITS FOR A "HEADSHOT" ...THAT MAN WILL NEVER HOLD MY GAFF AGAIN....NEVER...IN FACT...

MY PAST EXPERIENCE AND GOAL IS TO PUT DAMEATNDABOX.....FOR EXPLAINING TO THE PEOPLE BEHIND ME WHY I SCREWED AROUND WAITING ON A HEADSHOT AFTER THE HOOK PULLED IS NOT EXACTLY MY CUP OF DIET DR PEPPER....


ON A REALISTIC NOTE....TRY LIFTING A 100 LB TUNA OR A 70 POUND WAHOO IN THE BOAT WITH A HEADSHOT....I CALL BULLSHIT TO ANY MAN WHO SAYS THAT IS EASY

AND IF A MAN CONTINUES TO MAKE HEADSHOTS ON A WAHOO...I PROMISE HIM ONE DAY HE WILL REGRET DOING THIS.


MY MAIN TARGET IS THE MIDDLE OF THE STOMACH....BUT IT DOESN'T ALWAYS WORK THAT WAY FOR ME....AND IF I DO MAKE A HEADSHOT IT IS NOT BECAUSE I WAS TRYING TO...IT IS BECAUSE THAT IS WHERE THE GAFFHEAD LUCKILY LANDED FOR THAT IS NOT MY PRIMARY TARGET

I WANT TO SEE A MAN MAKE A HEAD SHOT ON A 400 LB TUNA.....I BET IT BOUNCES OFF A FEW TIMES BEFORE HE FINALLY REALIZES THAT THE HEAD IS MADE OF CONCRETE & STEEL.



TAIL, BACKSTRAP, HEAD, STOMACH, GILL, OR DORSAL,...I DON'T CARE WHERE THE ENTRY POINT IS AS LONG AS IT MAKES AN ENTRY....

I don't "wait" for a headshot, but I'm aiming for just behind the gills every time. More often than not, that's right where I hit 'em. I think it's easier to lift & control a fish that's gaffed there.

[IglooMan]

I agree with the head-shot philosophy. With a lot of practice and a little thinking you can get the good gaff shot percentages up pretty high.

If anyone is worried about losing a fish while "waiting" for a head-shot, Id suggest switching over to circle hooks on all trolling lures. Fish DO NOT come off with a big c-hook wrapped around their jaw bone. Only problem may be that it eliminates any excuse for lack of patience/skill and its result... Gaffindameat.

Having a bar "handle" also helps with gaffing. Much easier to lead the fish...

[LongRigger]

The first thing you need to do when that fishcomes up is to check were its hooked. If its a mahi or a 'hoo thats hooked down deep, theres really no need to rush a gaffshot. take yourtime, get the fish under control and dont try to bully it. keep him swimming at the side of the boat, dont pull his head out of the water needlessly just to show off how strong you are. That being said, hooked down deep i take my time and hit mahi's under the chin of right on the eye, wahoo's rght behind the gill.

Hitting a meat fish in the body can result in a loss of 75cents to a 1.50 a pound when selling it to auction, and thats alot of money when it starts to add up.

Marlin i was taught to hit underneth the chin or directly behind the gill or in the shoulder area to gain leverage on the fish.

[Squidnation]

body shot on a big dolphin is trouble. that fish will enter the boat slapping every part of a fishermans body. plus i have seen more big dolphin fall out of a box when trying to go directly to the box. i recently learned to be ready with a squirt bottle of tequila or vodka. head gaff. lift head skirt some alochol in its mouth or kills. dead in an instant.

tuna i am for the head. rarely do it hit it. don't care so long as it makes it in the boat.

wahoo - don't catch enough to say but i do aim for the head. not sure why its any more dangerous to gaff him in the head so you can control the razors or in the body where it could swing around and getcha ya

marlin - i just ask biebs where he want me to stone it

[Captain Michael Buffington]

YOU NEED TO SPEND MORE TIME ON THE WATER WITH A GAFF IN YOUR HAND BRO....

IF A MAN SITS AROUND WITH ME WITH A GAFF IN HIS HAND AND WAITS FOR A "HEADSHOT" ...THAT MAN WILL NEVER HOLD MY GAFF AGAIN....NEVER...IN FACT...

MY PAST EXPERIENCE AND GOAL IS TO PUT DAMEATNDABOX.....FOR EXPLAINING TO THE PEOPLE BEHIND ME WHY I SCREWED AROUND WAITING ON A HEADSHOT AFTER THE HOOK PULLED IS NOT EXACTLY MY CUP OF DIET DR PEPPER....


ON A REALISTIC NOTE....TRY LIFTING A 100 LB TUNA OR A 70 POUND WAHOO IN THE BOAT WITH A HEADSHOT....I CALL BULLSHIT TO ANY MAN WHO SAYS THAT IS EASY

AND IF A MAN CONTINUES TO MAKE HEADSHOTS ON A WAHOO...I PROMISE HIM ONE DAY HE WILL REGRET DOING THIS.


MY MAIN TARGET IS THE MIDDLE OF THE STOMACH....BUT IT DOESN'T ALWAYS WORK THAT WAY FOR ME....AND IF I DO MAKE A HEADSHOT IT IS NOT BECAUSE I WAS TRYING TO...IT IS BECAUSE THAT IS WHERE THE GAFFHEAD LUCKILY LANDED FOR THAT IS NOT MY PRIMARY TARGET

I WANT TO SEE A MAN MAKE A HEAD SHOT ON A 400 LB TUNA.....I BET IT BOUNCES OFF A FEW TIMES BEFORE HE FINALLY REALIZES THAT THE HEAD IS MADE OF CONCRETE & STEEL.



TAIL, BACKSTRAP, HEAD, STOMACH, GILL, OR DORSAL,...I DON'T CARE WHERE THE ENTRY POINT IS AS LONG AS IT MAKES AN ENTRY....

gaffing fish is like shooting birds. Just lead them. Aim for the eye. Point the hook down and come through him in one smooth stroke. Don't be the numbnut with the hook pointed up tryng to granny shoot at it. I once saw a dudes arm ripped out of socket on a 320lb yellowfin because he hit it behind the dorsal. Their head is what directs where they go. There is a high side and a low side to each circle of the spiral of death. Any decent mate should recognize where he will come to the surface(on which side of the angler)if you are there the head is THE FIRST THING you see. last time I checked tuna did not have brakes or reverse. The rest of their body follows their head everytime. Stick him in the head and you have control. Last time I checked I did not drag a deer with a rope around its belly. No, I tie it to the rack. same thing for fish...pull the head in and the body will follow everytime

Head like concrete? Please...Time to take a file to the gaffs.

Mike