Somehow, I have a problem with poor gaffing. As stated here many times, I always gaff the head of the fish. It saves meat, and gives you control of the fish. A gaff placed in the middle of the fish ruins the meat and the fish has control of you. I just found a commerical device that might work on the Big E which is notorious for loin gaffing. I realize the deckhands are high off the water and so on and so on. Do you think this might work on a head boat. If so, I'll buy it. The device slides over the fishing line when the fish is ready to be boarded. A rope is attacthed to the device. Once it is lowered it comforms to the tuna's head and the six gaffing hooks grab onto the tuna's head. Commercial tuna fisherman use this device as they can't sell a tuna with body gaffs at the market.
Here is another tuna device used by commercial fisherman. Brain Crusher Only the highest grades of tuna are used by the Japanese for Sashimi and only the highest quality tuna return high prices to the fisherman. In order to assure that tuna is of the highest quality possible, both the tuna’s brain and spinal column should be crushed as soon as they are aboard the vessel. First the Brain Crusher tool is used to destroy the brain and make a hole in the tuna’s head which gives access to the spinal column. A piece of metal wire or monofilament is inserted into the spinal column and pushed through the center of the spinal column through its entire length. This should be left in place so that buyers are aware that this process has been performed. This process completely kills all activity of the fish’s nervous system. The fish is then bled thoroughly by making a small cut behind the lateral fin. This process should be followed, even if the fish’s head is removed prior to icing.
Tuna Mouse Traps Constructed using Gamakatsu Saltwater Hooks, American Fishing Wire 49 Strand 400T wire and a Rosco swivel. This is the ideal way to hide a wire leader in a dead bait and still not have it seen by the target game fish.
You've been busy MrBill. You can bet that if the commercials use, it works. The tuna traps are great. But they are better suited for giant bluefins.
Mr Bill, The device you have there is used commonly in Australia for gaffing fish when fishing from clifftops of sufficient height to make gaffing difficult if not impossible. They work a treat on most fish, however are not so good for tuna. Because tuna swim in circles, it prevents the "cliff gaff" from sliding down the line, in much the same way as a hoola hoop stays around the midsection of a beautiful young lady. But I digress, my suggestion to you would be to add some lead to the gaff to prevent it from getting stuck halfway up the line. You may have to add quite a lot of lead I reckon. Alternatively, prevent the tuna from circling by shooting it in the head with an appropriate rifle (22 is my choice), but be careful not to hit your line. Another consideration is the hooks on the gaff. The idea is that they pick up the fish under the gills or stick into the fish's cheeks. Now if the pics and DVD's I've seen are any indication, you guys catch some awesome tuna and therefore would require a gaff with huge hooks. Furthermore, because the gaff is attached to rope rather than a long, solid shaft like a conventional gaff, it can be hard work lifting the fish. I hope I haven't turned you off the idea, because I'm sure with some modification you could come up with a product that works very well. Good luck and happy brain crushing.
Not sure how well the gaff in the top picture will do when the fish is hooked on a tuna hunter. Most of them eat the last hook or only snagged the front hook. It looks like the fish would have to eat the whole popper to for that to work. It may work pretty good on chunk and live bait caught fish.
Personally I don't want anything with a point sliding down mu taunt line/leader. I lost two better fish do to gaffs hitting my line last trip.
I couldn't agree more with snagged. A tight line doesn't need much abrasion to snap. But, if you lose two nice fish because of the gaffing, I think I might take a chance at the sliding gaff. Since the meat is going to be partly destroyed by loin gaffing anyway, I'll take a chance on the slider. Could you imagine having this device placed over your head. http://www.lindgren-pitman.com/missile.htm
