In fishing, a gaff is a pole with a sharp hook on the end that is used to stab a large fish and then lift the fish into the boat or onto shore. Ideally, the hook is placed under the backbone. Gaffs are used when the weight of the fish exceeds the breaking point of the fishing line or the fishing pole.
How do you use gaff hook?
Gaffing Tips:
- Make sure the gaff hook is facing down and toward the boat as the fish is brought alongside.
- Lead the fish! ...
- Bury the gaff in the forward shoulder of the fish, not the tail end. ...
- Once a fish is on the gaff, the angler should back off on the drag or disengage the reel with the clicker on.
Do I need a fishing gaff?
In general, fish under 50lbs only need a gaff hook with gap measuring 2” to 3” to be effective, but on some species such as dorado, king mackerel, barracuda and other slim-bodied species, a 2” hook is almost always the best choice. Fish weighing over 50lbs should almost always be gaffed using a 3” or 4” hook.
