Gamefishing Basics

Get in behind!

When a fish is brought to the boat, it is usual for one of the crew to leader it, and another to either tag or gaff it, unless using a wind-on leader. 

At this stage it is important to keep the boat running slowly ahead to help prevent the fish from getting underneath the hull and dragging the line into the props. The fish should be led along the side of the boat, not straight into the transom.

While the fish is held on the leader, the second man moves in with tag-pole or gaff. But if he (or she) moves in front of the fish and leader man, his tag or gaff shot will be obstructed by the leader, making it difficult to reach the target area - the shoulder of the fish. Instead, he or she must come in behind the leader man for a clear, uncomplicated shot at the fish.

Removing circle hooks

The use of in-line circle hooks when game fishing with baits is slowly becoming more popular since Bay of Islands skipper Bruce Martin first tried them back in 1995. This type of hook produces a high level of mouth hook-ups and, consequently, much better survival rates for billfish, and are becoming mandatory for many tournaments (including this year’s ‘Nationals’).

However, circle hooks can lock tightly around the jaw hinge, making them hard to back out if you don’t want to leave them in the fish. The easy way to extract them is to grab hold of the exposed bend of the hook just above the barb with a hook-out device, such as the one shown. Pull the hook right through the hole until free of the fish, then cut the leader and pull it back through. This is much more efficient than trying to back the hook out, and the fish is less likely to damage itself against the side of the boat.