HARPOON VS. FLYING GAFF???

[Proheat]

I'd like to hear everyones opinion about Harpoon vs Flying Gaff. I'm sure that each one has its own unique use. Mainly my question is when shark fishing. Do you use a flying gaff or harpoon and why? We can even go as far as what works for 2 anglers vs. 4 anglers in a boat.

Flatbottom and myself talked about this yesterday and I'd like to hear from others too.

Thanks!!

[Seaker]

Well if your fishing tournaments it's a flying gaff or flying tailer as you can't bring out the POON for IGFA.

If your simply sharking and want to take the beast then "The Poon" is great for the end game. I am partial to Poon Man's gear so I'll stop my endorsement there...I think it's great especiallyin a CC because it breaks down.

Just my two cents

[johnseafood]

Man up and just straight gaff the damn sharks j/k. I;d rather go with a flyer then harpoon for sharks but at the same time I like harpoons better. Flyers never seems to work right when you need them to but poon harpoons are amazingly sweet

Me I just 12 gauge slug them in the head and its nighty night

[Bite Me]

I personally prefer the Dexter Russel.

http://videos.sportfishermen.com/vie...p?video_id=163

[Deep C]

On jaws fish there has never been any debate with me... I'm flyer all the way. Third gill for the kill. You aren't trying to penetrate that tough leather hide with it when you poke a gill. Once in there you have all those yummy vitals to wreck. Done right when that fish kicks and the line goes tight, He'll run that point up through the spine or brain... Game, set , match... The cap gun is really not necessary to seal the deal even (but its fun ) .
For swords or giants I would love to have a poon for them. I had one for a while and it grew legs . I Just can't get far enough ahead to add one to the arsenal yet for swords... Maybe one day somebody nice will get me one...

[waterman482]

I go with harpoon all the way and we use them alot on the longline boat especially with greener fish,i have used the poon but the one we have on the comm boat was custom built and has alot of weight up forward and really does the job well and it has been used several hundred times and has held up incredibly well,other than being tournament legal flyers are the biggest waste of time, i have seen more big fish get away from flyers than anything else,stick em with a harpoon and they aren't getting away.

[POON MAN]

All good points

I would like to add a few considerations

When using a 6 foot flying gaff you need to have the fish with in 5 feet of the gaff man to get a purchase on the fish.

With a harpoon your reach is not hindered by distance
The fish can be down or away as much as your ability to throw your harpoon
Many fish have been stuck as far from the boat in excess of 15 feet

We recommend getting your fish as close to the vessel before planting your harpoon,

Safety,
It is far safer to dart an unruly shark and separate your distance at a moments notice and not worry abut the fish shaking the flyer out of its head,
Or worse having it banging against your Gel-Coat and or flying back into the pit

You all know me and what I do for a living,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,I am THE POON MAN !!!!

[Innovator]

Besides the obvious reasons for myself, in favor of the POON

Well before working with Chris and developing the POON. I have always been a fan. Going back to the first boats I fished on and later worked on we always used a harpoon outside of fishing tournamens (of course). There must be a reason the IGFA banned thier use as an unfair advantage?

Two reason Harpoon are superior-

1. The longest Flying gaff available on the market is a Max. 6' in length, most harpoons are 8-10' long, this drastically increases your reach, nevermind being able to throw the harpoon. A lot of fish are lost boatside for a variety of reasons!!!!! Why take the chance? If you do not have to.

2. Malfunctioning Fly Gaff Heads and Accuracy- It is much easier to go forward with one single fluid motion verses going over and back in two motions, as with a flier. Fly Gaffs heads tend to come off too early or not at all. I would choose the latter if I had to.

I have heard many arguments going both ways, and I respect those who still prefer fly gaffs. However, 90% of Giant Bluefin Tuna fishermen in New England use harpoons. When the money is on the line, this is the prefered method, nevermind less damage to the fish. There has been a great surge in Recreational Swordfishermen in South Florida who have completely put away thier Fly-gaffs in favor of harpoons, especially because swordfish have such soft mouths this reduces the amount of pulled hooks boatside.

Lastly, It is so much Damn Fun!!!!!!!!!!!

[waterman482]

All good points

I would like to add a few considerations

When using a 6 foot flying gaff you need to have the fish with in 5 feet of the gaff man to get a purchase on the fish.

With a harpoon your reach is not hindered by distance
The fish can be down or away as much as your ability to throw your harpoon
Many fish have been stuck as far from the boat in excess of 15 feet

We recommend getting your fish as close to the vessel before planting your harpoon,

Safety,
It is far safer to dart an unruly shark and separate your distance at a moments notice and not worry abut the fish shaking the flyer out of its head,
Or worse having it banging against your Gel-Coat and or flying back into the pit

You all know me and what I do for a living,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,I am THE POON MAN !!!!

we stick quite a few live makos that follow tuna up to the side of the boat and have a great system down one guy baits him up the other sticks him and the 3rd guys clips the polyballs or lowdrags on the line as the fish takes line out of the basket it works great and we have done this dozens of times without incident we have also stuck quite a few larger free swimming swords that follow a hooked fish to the side of the boat i fish for a living and would never use a flying gaff on a comm longliner if that gives you any idea or doubts about using a harpoon

[flatbottom]

The POON MAN has spoken. I never could get my rabbit to lay on his back for a belly rub. Safety first, poon his nasty attitude second. I would also like to hear opinions 2 vs 4 fishermen using flyer, capper, tail rope, vs poon.