Boga's and other lip grippers
 

Anyone use these from the surf? I have been thinking of grabbing one, 1) to weigh a fish quickly for a fast release 2) to save my hands when I can't see hooks (had a bluefish attached to my leg last summer on a double treble hook plug) 3) especially in the canal, I think I can do less damage to the fish with a quick clamp on the lip. I dropped a few fish that twisted and shook out of my grip and took unneccesary knocks in the rocks.

It would be more for the second 2 than the first. Wouldn't neccesarily need to have a scale.

I was given one from BassProShop. Tight gripper, scale up to 40lbs. I'm going to try to use them a lot more this season for your number 2, but even more number 3 reason.

As long as the bluefish is under 6-7lbs, the death grip over the shoulders has worked for me so far. After a few bass though, my thumb looks like I put a belt sander to it.

I use them for blues, it works relly well, it's annoying to wait for them to open their mouth and then make a stab at it. It takes a few tries to get good with it. I still support the bigger ones' bellies when I use it to take some strain off the jaw.

Got the 30lb Boga 2 years ago. Thought it was a bit pricey, but after looking at several other brands I took the plunge. The thing flat out does it's job! And it seems bullet proof. Been in the sand, in the water, taken all kinds of abuse. Quick rinse every once in a while, shot of WD 40 at the end of the season, and the thing still looks (and works) like brand new. Not only a must for bluefish, but great with schoolies that have a mouth full of Bomber:btu:. One of the few items that "you get what you pay for" is true of!

One important note: It is better to get a 30lb one and bottom the scale than to risk the wrath of the fishing gods by getting a 60 lb one.:laughs::laughs:

If you get one make sure to support the belly of the stripers when you weigh them, otherwise you can do serious internal damage.

i have the rapala lock and weigh for 60 lb (still waiting to max it out :hihi:) and it has worked very well. just have to rinse it and WD40 it. the only thing i dont like is it is a bit on the heavier side i think compared to the boga and also, i dont like the teeth it has so i filed those down to make them smoother and easier to release fish. works great and is awesome to have when releasing fish you used to always wonder what the weight it. i just could not afford the boga for $225 or whatever it is and went for the $75 option... i like it a lot overall though.