Good question. I fish from a jetski (and previously from a kayak), so space is limited. I could carry both, but that would take up two rod holders. The gaff is useful for big fish - having said that, I often choose not to gaff them because I want to release them (go figure as they say!). The gaff also serves as a boat hook. I can USUALLY (but not always!) accept the odd fish slipping the hook and getting away because I don't have a net. 

Thanks for your thoughts, both.

Foxtrot Oscar wrote: MB: I understand the space limitation on your jetski. Do you gaff bigger snapper since you can't net them?

smudge wrote: Good question FO. If the kingfish is marginal I will net it. If its a biggish one (say a metre or more) and I'm going to keep it then I'll gaff it. Kingfish often come to the boat pretty green and it's best to take your time till you can get a good net or gaff shot. You need a decent sized net too.

Fish Addict wrote: Foxtrot Oscar wrote: I noticed that even with the fish near the boat he chose to 'gaff' the fish where I thought a landing net would have been used I thought exactly the same as you and given the option I would have used the landing net. I guess there is no right or wrong it just seemed to me that netting was probably the easier option.

JustAnotherSpearo wrote: Interesting little topic! 7.1mm stainless steel shaft captures all my fish, have next to no experience with a net or a gaff.. I must say on here I learn a fair amount about the extra lengths you tackle fiddlers go to. much more to fishing than throwing some bait and a hook overboard

Good to see the age old spearos vs idiot stickers debate is still alive and healthy .  Some classic posts from the breath holders over the years.

Foxtrot Oscar wrote: smudge wrote: JustAnotherSpearo wrote: Interesting little topic! 7.1mm stainless steel shaft captures all my fish, have next to no experience with a net or a gaff.. I must say on here I learn a fair amount about the extra lengths you tackle fiddlers go to. much more to fishing than throwing some bait and a hook overboard  Good to see the age old spearos vs idiot stickers debate is still alive and healthy .  Some classic posts from the breath holders over the years. Tackle Fiddlers, Idiot Stickers, LOL. Great stuff! (I presume the Idiot Stick is a 'rod'?) The aspect I'm interested in is that a hooked fish which is boated via a landing net has a reasonable chance of being returned to the sea, alive, if it is either undersized or an unwanted 'biggie' perhaps. Whereas a fish that has been gaffed or speared has a poor prognosis for a longer life. This leads me to ask: How do spearo's determine legal length before pulling the trigger? What if you spear something that's a bit short when you get it onto the boat? Or do you only shoot at 'long' fish?

Well let me tell you a story.. ill try make it a short version.
Dad started spearing at highschool and had a handpicking license and he is now 65. 40 odd years doing the hard yards, trial and error, with poor old mum in the mix for the last 30 years.

What fish are picked to go home for my family and or neighbors. 2/3 own boats.. which resulted.. Well... Basically over christmas I was banned from shooting any kingfish under 30kg (both grandparents remaining are in rest homes, once a month provide them with kingfish / snapper/ scallops etc to feed the resident but mainly my grandparents miss their seafood) and banned from shooting any snapper unless stated needed one for the table..
Whole family is just "fished" out. As mum says..

But in terms of fish, we get to see what swims around, if you are unsure just wave at the fish dont squeeze the trigger.

Kingfish are easy to identify.. always have the rats in the school but just go down to the bottom where the big fellas are and take the pick then hold on for the tow ride.

If I wanted I could come home just about every trip with a snapper in the 15-20lb range (as long as I launch out of Whangareis harbor), but honestly 4 nights in a row of fish for every 2nd weekend has cured that trigger happy side.

You also learn reference to gauge the size, probably a bit like how you guys determine the fish on the stick with headshakes or whatever. My palm with dive glove on makes a scallop 105mm. Smaller needs a measure and so on.

As a lifelong angler, and SCUBA diver for over 20 years, I have a lot of respect for spearos. It takes an awful lot of practice and skill to be good at it, and in my experience spearos are very selective about what they take and have zero by-catch.   

JustAnotherSpearo wrote: Foxtrot Oscar wrote: smudge wrote: JustAnotherSpearo wrote: Interesting little topic! 7.1mm stainless steel shaft captures all my fish, have next to no experience with a net or a gaff.. I must say on here I learn a fair amount about the extra lengths you tackle fiddlers go to. much more to fishing than throwing some bait and a hook overboard  Good to see the age old spearos vs idiot stickers debate is still alive and healthy .  Some classic posts from the breath holders over the years. Tackle Fiddlers, Idiot Stickers, LOL. Great stuff! (I presume the Idiot Stick is a 'rod'?) The aspect I'm interested in is that a hooked fish which is boated via a landing net has a reasonable chance of being returned to the sea, alive, if it is either undersized or an unwanted 'biggie' perhaps. Whereas a fish that has been gaffed or speared has a poor prognosis for a longer life. This leads me to ask: How do spearo's determine legal length before pulling the trigger? What if you spear something that's a bit short when you get it onto the boat? Or do you only shoot at 'long' fish?  Well let me tell you a story.. ill try make it a short version. Dad started spearing at highschool and had a handpicking license and he is now 65. 40 odd years doing the hard yards, trial and error, with poor old mum in the mix for the last 30 years. What fish are picked to go home for my family and or neighbors. 2/3 own boats.. which resulted.. Well... Basically over christmas I was banned from shooting any kingfish under 30kg (both grandparents remaining are in rest homes, once a month provide them with kingfish / snapper/ scallops etc to feed the resident but mainly my grandparents miss their seafood) and banned from shooting any snapper unless stated needed one for the table.. Whole family is just "fished" out. As mum says.. But in terms of fish, we get to see what swims around, if you are unsure just wave at the fish dont squeeze the trigger. Kingfish are easy to identify.. always have the rats in the school but just go down to the bottom where the big fellas are and take the pick then hold on for the tow ride. If I wanted I could come home just about every trip with a snapper in the 15-20lb range (as long as I launch out of Whangareis harbor), but honestly 4 nights in a row of fish for every 2nd weekend has cured that trigger happy side. You also learn reference to gauge the size, probably a bit like how you guys determine the fish on the stick with headshakes or whatever. My palm with dive glove on makes a scallop 105mm. Smaller needs a measure and so on.

MightyBoosh wrote: As a lifelong angler, and SCUBA diver for over 20 years, I have a lot of respect for spearos. It takes an awful lot of practice and skill to be good at it, and in my experience spearos are very selective about what they take and have zero by-catch.