NC Rockfish: stick or scoop?

[bar rod]

As a Virginian I've always had to scoop rockfish with a net, but a friend recently told me it was ok to gaff rockfish when fishing in North Carolina.

Is this true?

Thank you in advance for responses. Also, this would be for obviously keeper-sized fish within the limits. All others would be carefully released.

Ed

ps i have just finished reading nc regs regarding stripers and can't see anything that stipulates fish must be landed with a net, so my guess is stick 'em.

[EMTAE]

NET EM......... Dont have to use a gaff on them.

[obxfish]

Perfectly legal to gaff in NC.

[anthony]

But why would you gaff? It is much easier to net them.

[John Rogers]

But gaffing more fun then netting

[whitneymarch]

Gaff a rockfish! Why would anyone want to do that? I a girl and most of the time I just reach down and grab em.

[micchip]

Exactly, unless its a trophy fish we just reach over and lip them up here on Long Island.

[fishingkdr]

I usually just reach down and grab em, unless were fishing a tournament.

[MAKO19]

This topic frequently comes up and I have trouble understanding why people have problems with people who gaff larger fish ?? How come people are not asking, "why do people gaff the larger Dolphin?" If the fish is going to be killed then why not gaff? For one it gets the fish bleeding before the major bleeding can begin (cutting the gills.) BTW, if you never bled a Striper do it and you will not go back. It increases the quality of the meat and makes it 10 times easier to clean back at the fillet station (less of a mess to deal with). Secondly, gaffing Stripers keeps you on your game for tuna season. More practice . Third, you don't have to worry about your hook/sinker/leader getting all tangled in the net when the fish starts flopping around on the deck.

If releasing reach over and keep the fish in the water as long as possible while removing hook. If killing but not sure it will "measure up" net it. If killing and the fish is 100% cooler bound then gaff that som-*****.

Catch it, kill it, and grill it!!!

[Tuna Meltdown]

All legal sized stripers that are to be kept get gaffed. Otherwise I like to use gorilla gear and I hoist them over by grabbing the leader. No nets required. Plus I hate the frustration of having to store a net. They are constantly getting tangled in rods and rod holders. Pain in the butt.