IN THESE days of catch-and-release fishing the once-popular gaff hook is rarely sighted.
When I started chasing snapper and mulloway, a gaff was regarded as a standard piece of equipment.
Few saltwater anglers employed a net; these were most popular among freshwater anglers, especially those who fished for trout.
For the uneducated, a gaff is simply a large, barbless hook about 50-75mm across the gape attached to a pole about a metre long. Gaffing fish was clean and fast, provided, of course, the angler didn't panic and try to slash at the fish.
In those "kill it and fillet" days when catch and release was rarely practised by anyone, gaffs made a lot of sense.
Times have changed and these days most of us practise catch and release and the last thing we want to do is use something that is going to damage our fish.
A properly executed gaff shot will leave a hole, albeit a neat one, in a fish's flank.
A poorly placed gaff shot can lead to the flesh tearing as a fish struggles to get away.
Nets are the best option for most fish if you want to employ a catch-and-release technique.
However, not all fish can be netted. The twisting and turning gyrations of large sharks require a rope gaff; a 50kg tuna or small 50kg marlin are in the same category.
In such cases, and there are many more, catch and release is best practised with the fish in the water.
When using a net there are two golden rules.
The first is that fish are swum to the net, and then it is lifted. If you try to scoop a fish with a net, the chances are you will miss.
The second rule of nets is that you cannot get a big fish into a small net. When buying a net you should consider the style and size that most suits your fishing circumstances.
Not all nets are the same and there are some simple rules about nets anglers need to be aware of.
First, the weakest point on most nets is the frame. In this regard, you get what you pay for.
Cheap nets are often manufactured with paper-thin aluminium frames that are susceptible to corrosion and too often buckle under the weight of a heavy fish.
Netting material also needs to be considered. String nets that are knotted together are a problem for fish as the string can become caught under scales or even cause a split in the caudal or tail fin.
Damaged fish are susceptible to disease or, as in the case of a split tail fin, the fish's hunting and getaway speed is hampered. For this reason a fine-mesh net is better than one with heavy string and large holes.
For anglers who seriously care for the well being of their fish, Environets are a popular tool.
Expensive to purchase, these fish-friendly nets are made from nylon and feature smooth netting.
When you catch a fish, leave it in the water, in the net, until you are ready to take a hero shot, and then release it.
If you want to weigh your catch, leave it in the net, hook the scales on to the net frame, and lift the fish.
- Steve Cooper can be heard on the Casting Off program on Radio Sport927 between 4.30am and 6.30am on Saturdays.
