Having a discussion about legality of using a gaff on bass in RI. Is it legal? Couldn't find anything on the DEM site. Figured this would be the place to ask. Anyone know or where it says anything on the DEM site? Thanks

Bill

I don't know the law (hopefully John will pipe in) but if you use a gaff you had better be keeping the fish.

Makes sense right ?

What Beachwalker said.....

I browsed the DEM regs this morning, and couldn't find any info about gaffs.....I looked in the text regs page under both "Striped Bass" and "Equipment Regulations", and found no mention of gaffs......

But that doesn't necessarily mean it's legal..........

Here's the link if someone wants to look further.....

http://www.state.ri.us/dem/pubs/regs/regs/fishwild/rimftoc.htm

One would only gaff a fish if one intends on keeping it... right?
It is possible to lip (or jaw) gaff a bass without harm but if you sink it into her gut....the chances for survival are slim...if she does not bleed to death, infection and death will probably result.

I think one should never gaff a Bass no matter what the situation is. We fished Cape Cod Bay all day on Sunday and damn I saw a lot of people gaffing small Bass and then releasing them. I say get a really big net and use it.

I do gaff a Bass thatg is already dead on a very short handled Gaff in order to drag or carry it up the Bach at the end of a session.

Lip gaffing is one of those things that works out better in theory than in practice. It works IF you can get the fish to open its mouth, or IF you can turn the head right at you so you can come up from under the jaw. And in the latter case, the distortion (refraction?) of the water can cause you to be off by just enough to come up under the gill plate. Best way to do it is grab the leader, bring the head out of the water and come up under the jaw, but that sometimes requires one more hand than what God gave us.

If you want a laugh sometime, go out to Montauk and watch someone try to lip gaff a big bass with one of those short-handled belt gaffs under the light, while 6 footers are coming onto the rocks. I imagine they do make it easier to lift a fish out of the crevices between those boulders after the waves sweep them in :D

Not long ago "The Fisherman" had a good write up on the correct way to use a gaff. Common sence will tell ya not to gaff C&R bass but being patient and knowing the correct technic, gaffs have there place.

Anybody know what that Fisherman issue # is??

Thanks for the responses guys. Don't pile on, I don't use a gaff either, just trying to quell an argument. I couldn't find anything either on the DEM site. Seems someone saw someone at Quonny with a gaff actively using it, saying it was for bluefish, but sticking bass he knew were keepers. Not trying to start wars, just wonder if the commercial sector(guys selling fish) uses this. I know it RI you can spearfish bass, but in the republic of Connecticut you can't. I never had a problem lipping them or using the leader, even at charlestown in a stormy snot. Thanks again for the responses

BIll

I have been Striped Bass fishing for over fifty years and trolling mostly Plugs and eelskins.
I use a six foot long handle with a two inch wide gaff hook fiberglassed into one end. When bringing the fish up, I have the Angler draw the fish to the boat and I leader the fish. The fish almost always has his head up and mouth wide open. Insert gaff hook point side down, penetrate lower mouth skin and pull fish up with steady pressure to the lower lip.
Put a wet towel over her head to cover her eyes and if the trebles are really fetched up I have to lay her on the deck. With the towel over her head she seems to lay still. I use barbless hooks now and back the hooks out, pick her up with the gaff in her mouth and place her back into the water. Tow her a few feet and she will let you know when she is ready to go. Just back the gaff hook out and away she goes. Usually with a gigantic sweep of water from her tail in my face as a thank you.
It is a wonderful feeling to release big fish. Something I had never done until last year!

Thank you Capt. Chet,

This web site can be so fantastic sometimes.

From: "Janice Thurston" <jthursto@dem.state.ri.us> |This is spam | Add to Address Book
To: "NilsC" <yakfisher_ri@yahoo.com>
Subject: Re: Is it legal to use gaff on stripers?
Date: Tue, 15 Jul 2003 11:22:33 -0400

Gaffing is a popular subject today. You're the third person asking.
There is no prohibition on gaffing fish (including stripers), however, it is our hope that you actually have a legal size 'keeper' before you gaff the fish.


I guess I was not the only one asking.

Nils:cool:

Eh, I'm still against gaffing fish for the most part...

Its not that hard to grab the gill plates or use a lip gaff...

Tuna fishing is the only time I ever use a gaff.

Originally posted by likwid
Eh, I'm still against gaffing fish for the most part...

Its not that hard to grab the gill plates or use a lip gaff...

Tuna fishing is the only time I ever use a gaff.

likwid, the question was on legality of gaffing stripers...

;)

Nils:cool:

Missed this thread - Chet - very nice method!

As I do mostly shore fishing I've never used a gaff and as I release alot I wouldn't do it from a boat - even on Bluefish. I will use a net or leader the fish and then liplock (the tool :wall: ) or one of them newe fanglede lock -n- weighs ...

It's already been answered that there is no real legal issue with it but I certainly hope that DEM would cite and arrest anyone gaffing any striper in the side / meat of the fish regardless of size and then releasing it, especially if under sized.

Billybob - I'm still laid off - might need to visit you next week :)

The June 12, 2003 issue of The Fisherman had an FD article on bridge fishing, with the bridge gaff described, followed with this footnote:

"EDITOR'S NOTE: It is illegal in several states - namely Rhode Island and Connecticut - to gaff striped bass. Though it was a common practice for many years, and still is where permitted, there are other options for landing big fish from high bridges."

Not sure if specifically "bridge" gaffing is the law referred to, or gaffing altogether :confused:

Think the editor was wrong on that one.....don't know about CT, but it is illegal in NJ.....

The artical I was referring to is: Gaffing 101 by Keith Reynolds

March 13, 2003 No. 11

Never used a gaff on striped bass.

In NJ it is illegal to gaff a fish once u have a limit.I fish the jetty's here an sometimes it is the only way to get a good fish up.climbin down with waves comin up on u ain't a option.I try to stick em in the mouth when I want to release them but that is easier said then done sometimes.they usaually just don't lay there with there mouths open.

NIB....sorry, guess I had that wrong....I was under the impression it was illeagl to gaff any striped bass in Jersey...guess not....