I fish solo a lot and a gaff is better than a net in my opinion, because while one hand is on the rod, the other is either maneuvering a big net, trying to keep the hooks from snagging the net, or just pulling vertical. I guess a harpoon would be even better.

 

I fished commercial Salmon in my own boat for 25 years, the first 20 was a Net, a special salmon net with shallow bowl, then the last 5 was a gaff, after gettin tuned to the Gaff I wondered why I didn't gaff earlier. faster no tangles, de-hook way easier. There are gaffs and gaffs, commercial I'm talking about a slapping gaff, that impales on a swing.

 

I like my 2 foot gaff. Especially for the bigger ones. Easier to shoot with short gaff.

 

as long as you keep your hand out of the way
I Totally Agree ... 😎🐠🐟🐡🎣

 

harpoon

 

I agree; harpoon for the bigguns.

 

a short (24") gaff is definitely sufficient

 

I advise against a short handled gaff-- I want no part of bending over the side of the boat to reach out and gaff a 4' halibut because you just might end up in the drink. I have a 4' and 6' gaff on my boat so I can stay in the boat and gaff the fish. And when you do get a halibut gaffed and over the rail----keep him on the gaff until you smack him real good a couple times with your fish whacker, helps keep him from breaking poles and other things when he starts doin the dance.

 

As most everyone has stated above, I also agree with using a gaff. I have a homemade handle on a commercial hook that is about 30 inches long. I accidentally got a 47 inch halibut last year and the gaff worked great. Super big ‘butts would require a harpoon. I never considered using a net especially when fishing solo

 

There is, or was, a nice sized halibut heading north from Twin Rocks with a short gaff stuck in its head. Then I bought a 4' Aftco aluminum gaff and it's worked on butts, tuna and big lings just fine. I did replace the shorter lost gaff with another 2'er strike type. Hook is more like a hockey stick or check mark than a U. It works great on rockfish and small lings. The only time I've ever used a net on a halibut was when that little one that went north got knocked out of my hand by a fish. That thing was cursed.

 

Harpoon or flying gaff for anything over 50-60 lbs.

 

Get a piece of Calcutta bamboo. Last time I ordered it online I think I got 4-6, six foot pieces shipped for $30 ish. Englund’s usually has it if you ask.

Take the hook off your short gaff and put it on the Calcutta bamboo length you prefer. I use 1/4” cord to wrap mine but a lot of things likely work just fine.

Or get an axe or shovel handle and move your gaff hook on to it.

All of those are sub $40 solutions.

You can make those Calcutta bamboo gaffs look really sharp with some spar varnish, nice looking cord and if your so inclined, epoxy over the cord wrap. I’d take my Calcutta gaffs over any other gaff.

Picture of one of my gaffs and a harpoon.

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Get a piece of Calcutta bamboo. Last time I ordered it online I think I got 4-6, six foot pieces shipped for $30 ish. Englund’s usually has it if you ask.

Take the hook off your short gaff and put it on the Calcutta bamboo length you prefer. I use 1/4” cord to wrap mine but a lot of things likely work just fine.
Picture of one of my gaffs and a harpoon.

X2 I used tuna chord and 2 part epoxy

 

We harpoon anything over 40ish, gaff mid 30s if we’re going to keep them and just pull smaller ones over the side so they can go back. The gaff I use most is probably 3’. I have a longer one but it’s awkward. Think they’re called stick em gaffs. Bought them at englunds. They’re ok I guess. There’s something about wrangling a big halibut after harpooning it that is super fun. I use a cheap danielson harpoon.

 

We too harpoon most over 40. (Usually mid 40's) Not because we have to but because it much easier than fighting them. Let them hang for a few minutes on bigger ones then pull them over the rail.

We also use a 4ft gaff when we do gaff and to retrieve.

 

I gaff all halibut, so far up to low 50s. I have a harpoon but never felt the need for it yet. I made my gaffs from a heavy shovel handle and made a jig to bend 3/8" stainless rod into a took. Sharpened and heat treated the point and after 5 years they are still very sharp and working great. For tuna we use 2ft striker gaffs with 5/16" stainless rod for the hooks, with the same sharpening and heat treating as the bigger ones.

Some of the commercially available gaffs use thin stainless rod, like 1/4" for the larger gaffs, I would be afraid it would bend.

England's does sell the stainless hooks to build your own gaffs and they look a lot like the ones I built.

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Put a harpoon in the 53 we caught last week
Good thing because it came unbuttoned from the hook and took the 15 ft harpoon line and the fender out of the boat and under water 3 times !!!
Did use a gaff to retrieve the harpoon line, and lift the fish into the boat

 

Harpoon all the way for larger butts

 

I like to gaff smaller chicken halibut, leaving them on the gaff while I bonk them and then lay them down on the deck. The harpoon is for fish 40lbs and bigger since it is alot harder to keep them on the gaff while attempting to turn off the lights and welcome them to the club! 🪝😜

Harpooned Halibut

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That is a slap gaff, commonly used for salmon and small bottom fish. The gaff you want for halibut is an all-stainless halibut gaff, also called a hay hook. because it looks like one. The slap gaffs can straighten out if a nice fish starts thrashing, and it is fairly easy for fish to squirm off. The hay hooks are from much larger diameter rod, say 3/8". They won't straighten on anything you can hang on to. Speaking of hanging on, they have a "T" handle that goes between your fingers, very secure. They also have a deep, rounded shape making it very difficult for fish to get off. All that said, anything over about 70# gets a harpoon. I always have a couple hay hooks aboard, along with a couple harpoons. For the really big'uns one person will pull on the harpoon line while 2 others haul on the hay hooks.

 

Plus, it’s just so much fun to harpoon something. Brings out the inner caveman!

 

I buy hooks online for a few dollars. I then get a wood dowel from the hardware store like you hang clothes from in a closet. Drill a hole in the dowel and cut a groove down from that so the gaff hook handle barb sets in and the shaft is receded some. Then wrap in nylon twine to secure it. Cost about $20, lasts forever, floats and you make it the length you want.

Short gaffs frequently mean you just can’t quite reach the fish. Also, people have died over reaching to gaff fish.

 

When you look down at a big fiesty fish and you are alone ?????
You did screw up badly on what to have on the boat to lift & bring it on board.
You should Have a FOAM FILLED life jacket on. A 1/2" diameter life line around you and tied to the boat NEXT to a BOARDING LADDER to get back into the boat. If you get yanked in or slip over the side. YOU ARE ALONE !!

KNOW WHEN not to attempt bringing a big fish up and over the side !!! Never a shark ore a sword fish !!!!!!!!!!!! Cut the line & release it. Or tow it in until a shark bites off a chunk of the towed fish.
On trips for big or dangerous fish. I have a .22 caliber semi automatic pistol with .22 Hollow Point bullets. It is ALWAYS dead dead before coming on board.
Dead sharks Can & do have their jaws capable of opening & snapping shut repeatedly if the mouth sensors brush against a foot or ankle. A working brain IS NOT REQUIRED !!

Fish alone ? You are suddenly in serious trouble with some fish.

 

I like 6’ gaffs. There is learning curve. A net works just fine. I netted a 75 pounder once when I forgot my gaff and gun.

I have a very nimble small diameter Calcutta 2” gaff for ling cod and albacore. And a heavier Calcutta 3” gaff that worked great on a 50” er a week ago.

Dont hold the net flat like a frying pan. Hold the handle vertical once the fish is in the basket. Then you can put your fingers through the mesh.

i shoot butts over 44” or so. They are much more gentle when on the deck and I like shooting stuff

 

I harpoon anything big enough I'm hoping to keep it. It's the only part of halibut fishing I enjoy lol. Not necessary on a lot of fish nut again it's entertaining. I have a goto mounted to the harpoon so it's cool to watch later on. We had a couple big ones last year (60-80#'s) that took a while to die after harpooning and I felt bad they suffered that long, I would have lined to gaff and cut the gills while in the water but it was rough those days and they were uncooperative to say the least. I don't like the idea of having a firearm waving around on board in rough seas (pro gun as can be, just don't want the possibility of injury or damage to my boat) I've been thinking about trying a bang stick like they use on alligators, I think it would be much safer, and can be used to dispatch the fish under the water, eliminating ricochet chances and muffling the report so I don't startle others on the halibut grounds. If they ever come back in stock I think I'll order one and try it this year. Be great for sharks too if I ever get one of the good eating varieties.

 

This is as safe as you can get.

GunBroker.com - Error

Snake Charmer .410

single shot, break open, have to cock the hammer just before shooting. I never put the barrel in the water and try to have the fish at the surface or slightly above. Bird shot. One hand. Once it’s discharged or hammer is let off it can’t go off again. Won’t ring your ears like a pistol. I usually have the muzzle 2-4” from the fish and I don’t have to bend way down.

Very common in AK.

I’ve used one for years.

$ .02

 

Anything over 40" harpoon hands down. Safer, less chance of losing a bigger fish.
A lot of time you really don't know how big they are till the fish is on the surface.
I tried to net a halibut we hooked while fishing for lingcod. I was using, about the biggest net you can buy, well the halibut didn't fit and went screaming back down to the bottom. It was still hooked, thank god. It was 59" 104-106lb

I always have a buoy attached to the harpoon line. Never tied off. I use a large buoy, the type people use anchoring on the Columbia. I've had numerous fish pull it underwater 20-30'. Those fish would have broke off any line that was tied off.
Larges halibut we've landed off Oregon was 120-130lb or 63" We've boated 15-20 fish over 75lb.

 

I don’t know about Oregon and Washington law, but California requires a net onboard while fishing. Big fish I gaff, 4’ handle. Smaller I have a Promar halibut net, does not split tails. As to Calcutta bamboo, go to a farm supply store in an area that grows nuts. They are called Knocker poles.