must gaff or not

[bassbug]

hi gents,
this subject surface a few days ago with a few mates, i must of been under a wizard spell (for some time now) until i mentioned we had to gaff fish caught off/from a vessel (not that i did anyways), others promptly said there is no rule for such. i am sure i had read this rule somewhere a number of years ago, not sure where, maybe thru an old license form but reading thru the new license, nothing is mentioned but i guess it's a general and not detailed.
your input would be much appreciated, thanks

[REEFMAN]

?? never heard of a rule that you MUST gaff fish caught on a vessel? I don't think that rule exists.
 Nowadays gaffing a fish is only used if you intend killing/keeping the fish. It's never used in Catch and Release.

[bassbug]

thanks REEFMAN,
even now while typing this i can still see myself reading a rule like form and pulling that sour face, actually read it twice and thought of it as BS, hence why i can still remember it due its nature.
maybe i just read it and miss understood it or maybe it was meant for landing fish (kill)
anyways, happy it aint rule

[travelmember]

There was a tournament rule in the 1970's (a few selected international tournaments) where gaffing of fish to be weighed was compulsory. This was actually an early conservation attempt to stop guys handlining fish in and risk them breaking off and dying dragging yards of line behind them. Not sure of the reasoning - dead is dead....


From time to time we still use a gaff on catch and release. Mako's and big tuna are common examples.