Don't be that guy Stop using Gaff and throwing back the fish almost dead!

[penn50w]

Originally Posted by Merle31483

Especially now people who catch these "trophy" bass now the reason they are that big is because they are the spawning females full of eggs I myself striper fish mostly every night or every other I have caughten tons of bass already since the last week of March and only kept 1 to eat for my family every other fish I have caught ranging from 15 to 25 pounds has successively been gafed in the lower jaw and released to swim away again from the original poster if you gaff a fish try to gaff it in the lower lip so you do no harm to let her swim away for another day

If you are going to "RELEASE" THE FISH, how about you DON'T GAFF HER AT ALL!

[Capt. Lou]

Lip gaffing went out 30 years ago ! With all lip gripping devices a available no reason to ever lip gaff any fish period ! Swimming away fine with a hole in its jaw is a good release ??

[bulletbob]

Lip gaffing is a better choice than gut, side or back, but I agree, NO gaff is the best bet.
I have caught a lot of fish over the years with basically no mouth left, even a few with no lower jaw at all, so fish can survive some very serious mouth wounds.. however, if I were going strictly catch and release with no intent on taking a fish home, I would never consider using a gaff on them anywhere.

Also, one could crush down the barbs of a few lures and simply not worry about them coming off, just enjoy the battle and if it it comes unpinned, big deal, it was going back home anyway.... Stripers these days are under intense pressure, and every single one thats going to be released must survive.. leave the gaff home, and seriously consider going without a barb if playing catch and release only... .... bob

[Ice Cream Bill]

I striper fish 1-2x year but always practice catch and release especially with the big females. There’s an excellent article in this weeks Fisherman magazine on page 8 about striper bass release essentials by Capt. Nick. Those commenting in this feed about gaffing stripers should read it.