Anyway, I've made my points. The most important thing about fishing is not to stock your freezer, but to have fun. So, go out and have fun, but think about the impact that you can have on a certain fishery. If you've noticed one of your favorite spots declining in productivity over the years, think about the impact you can have simply by adjusting your fishing style for a while until it rebounds. You can lead by example and others will follow. Peer pressure can be a good thing too. Good luck and tight lines.
I would highly recommend that you do not use a gaff on a fish that you intend not to keep. In my opinion, there aren’t any non-fatal areas to gaff a fish.
Quote from: Cider on Mar 30, 2004, 11:38 AMI would highly recommend that you do not use a gaff on a fish that you intend not to keep. In my opinion, there aren’t any non-fatal areas to gaff a fish.Cider, I agree with you on all of your points. However, your statement about gaffs is true for most species, but for some, a gaff done properly causes no more damage than the hook for some saltwater species. A better solution would be a boca grip though. I personally don't use a gaff and have yet to have a need for one.