rock gaff

[rockfisho]

Hi all

After an expedition for tailor a while ago, off the rocks, i am after a gaff hook. I lost a solid greenback when the line hit the rocks whilst trying to land it. The gaff needs to be around 4 metres in length and lightweight so i can use it 1 handed if need be. What sort of materials do people recommend? I was considering using bamboo, is it long lasting? An old fishing rod also might be an option if i can get hold of a hollow fibreglass one for a good price. considered a pool pole for scooping leaves, but i think its too heavy.
The areas i will be fishing tend to be above the water a bit and always need fish to be lifted from them.

thanks

Owen

[pommy]

G'day!

It all depends on whether you have to scramble over rocks (get a collapsable pool cleaner) or have a fairly easy walk in to fish (15-16ft bamboo).

I us a 3 piece aluminium pole that collapses down to about 5 ft.

Go to your local "hippy"market and but a bamboo pole that they use to put those long Tibetan flags on ($10-20) or to your local rubbish tip shop for the aluminium pole.

Regards, Rob.
Ballina.

[sleepygreg]

I would definitely go the Bamboo pole. Thats what we always used on the rocks...much more flex and I have never seen one break (not saying it cant happen...but i havent seen it), It is also much more forgiving if you bash it on the rocks, or have to lever a fish over a ledge.....fibreglass will break (the pole or your arm)....aluminium will fold.....bamboo will flex. We also used bamboo gaff poles in the boats for yellowfin tuna....for those exact reasons.....sink a gaff into a fish and it tries to dive under the boat....rigid gaff means breakage/lost gaff/broken pole/gaffman in water. the more flex the better....gives the gaffer more leverage.

Greg

[Horse]

Bamboo is great. It is light and strong. Pool poles are Ok but pretty light weight when angled forces get applied. Another option is the two piece painters extension poles. They are much stronger

[theoldlegend]

Hi Owen,

Mate and I made a bamboo gaff about six years ago and it's as good as the day we made it. It's about 14 or 15 feet long, about 50-60 mil diameter and is easily handled by one person along with a 13'6" rod. Strap them together and over the shoulder.

We made it for rock fishing at Iluka, and if you're familiar with the wall down there, it's a long way down to the water.

I remember I had a good day on the day we picked up the bamboo. There was a clump of it on this flower farm at Wello and the owner said I could have a piece for nothing, provided I bought a bunch of flowers from him. Well, the mate and I were happy, and wife thought I was a bloody bewdy!!

I have seen aluminium screw together jobs at the place at Coorparoo on Old Cleveland Rd that would go to about 12 feet or so, but I don't know how strong they would be.

Regards,


TOL

[aussiefool]

Mate, what I use at that place is a aluminium pole with a slide out extension to which the gaff is then attached. I think it is a recycled painters pole but dose the job nicely.

If you can make it back down while I'm down you can check it out

Aussiefool
Andrew

[banshee]

You could also look at a cliff gaff (lowered down the line via a rope),there have been numerous designs over the years,though they could be a bit hard to use single handed.

[rockfisho]

hi all thanks for the great replies.

I'm leaning towards an old painters pole at the moment. because it preferably needs to be collapsible. I do do some fairly awkward hikes into some spots. and a collapsible one would make it easier. Bamboo would be a bit difficult to transport.
How long are the extendible painters poles?

cheers

Owen

[deepfried]

Bamboo is the best option for a long gaff in easily accessable places but if you have to hike in to awkward spots the collapsible alu ones are the only way to go. Safety comes first, you dont want to trip up on a long gaff getting into your ledge. Another option may be alu annex poles joined together some how but painters poles would be very similar.

Scott

[pommy]

Mine's a double painter's pole for which i managed to find a pool pole section that fitted the larger end at the tip.


Rob.

[1lastcast]

Mate i cut my teeth rock fishing the nsw southcoast land based game fishing if you plan on using it regularly may i suggest you get a screw together 3 piece gaff they will lift / and have lifted many times in the past 100kg plus marlin up from the water my particular one has never been stuck into a 100kg fish but i have lifted 30kg fish up onto the ledges with it.
Having said that i do not know how a bamboo one would go so cannot realy comment but the painters poles are a definate no go not at all designed for lifting i also looked at one before i got the 3
piece and would not feel comfortable lifting the fish of a lifetime with it , but it is your call .

from memory i think my gaff cost me $170-$180 but that was a long time ago they might have gone up since

regards Peter

[mattooty]

If its just for tailor and school jew then a painters pole would be fine but like monostretcho said, if you're lifting serious fish then you need to start thinking about investing a few more dollars into your venture.
I've got a 3 piece Dimax brand gaff that has served me very well. They're reinforced and are quite light. Very good for fishing on low ledges as you can just use the top section. Mine hasn't hit anything over 30kg yet but have deadlifted jew and tuna to 28kg fine. Just make sure your gaff hook is sharpened and any signs of rust are either sprayed with Inox or the like or that part replaced.

[rockfisho]

Ive thought about those professionally made ones. they look good but are quite expensive. Im not sure i can justify the expense at teh moment. I know the fish arent as consistantly big as the ones that come from teh northern rivers. Im tending towards a pool pole because they are fairly strong. I know the lock isnt great on them so im going to put a bolt accross to strengthen the shaft. I will then bind on a gaff end. about 3 inches in gape. This should be good enough for the biggest jewies we get around here. After uni im considering doing a trip down south, and will probably upgrade if i do some serious LBG.

thanks and keep the replies coming

Owen

[rando]

I made mine from a pool cleaner,I took off the end fitting and jammed a roll of newspaper down the tube till it was below the holes for the end fittings.Then i used metalweld epoxy to fill the recess , tape over the holes so the epoxy doesnt run out and shove the hook in and tape it in place.
The epoxy will fill the holes for the pool fittings creating lugs to lock the plug in.
The beauty of metal weld is that you can drill , grind,screw or machine it without losing strength. So if you think it needs more holding power whack a s/s bolt through.
I also put a locking pin in mine so the inner cant slip.
The weight isnt an issue , but any very long pole is hard to manage because of the leverage it affords (just ask my girlfriend)
Having said all that, mine gaff hasnt been blooded,,yet. Rock fishing has taken a back seat since i got the boat.
,

[rockfisho]

thanks rando.

Ive got a little gaff hook that you buy at the tacklestores to make your own gaff. it has a little tag at one end so it bites into the pole its attached to. ill put that through one of the holes on the pool pole, then bind the whole thing tight with venetian cord and araldite it. Ill also get a few stainless bolts and put them through to strenghten it. Is the metal weld epoxy expensive?

cheers

Owen