landing fish from a jettie

[Slingah]

I need some advice or tips. I have never been to keen on fishing from jetties but time to try something new. I have done a little in the past but found it hard to land the fish safely (it & me).
I probally will get a long gaff in case I run across a trophey, but was wondering bout other methods and all around tackle.
Thanks in advance M.S.

[Surfcastinglife]

i usually fish with my dad.......we use a hand held landing net with about an 18inch handle

[tlapinski]

try the searc......


seriously, i will carry a long handled gaff when it gets real nasty. otherwise i just go down after the fish. i know the breachways i fish well enough to walk them w/out a light, so i know all the landing rocks. the best advice would be to scout landing spots before you hook up on a fish.

[Rappin Mikey]

Essentials would be korkers and a 10' piece of rope. Bring the rope down with you tie it through the gills. This way you can use both hands to get you back up the jetty. Then pull the fish up. Obviously only use this method if you plan on keeping the fish.

[Redsoxticket]

What do you do with your rod if your climbing up with two hands from the bottom of the jetty just leave it on the rocks so that the eyes, reel and rod get damaged ?

[Rappin Mikey]

Oh yeah, you need a friend to hold the rod. Or bring a sand spike and wedge it between the rocks. Learned the trick from a Frank Dangialt seminar.

[Redsoxticket]

I agree with you regading the sand spike however you need to be careful not to trip over it which seems very easy to do especially if it is not you.
I have a fish net with an extentable handle, the more hardware you bring may be cumbersom but once your on a jetty your not going to walking everywhere like you would in the surf.
I like the rope idea.

[Mike P]

If it's a short jetty, the safest play is to walk a fish to the beach.

If not, do what Frank D recommends---scope out the rocks and figure a safe way down to the water before you make your first cast, and carry a rope. You have to have a plan in your head for landing a big fish.

As for the rod---I get down as close to the water as I can while I'm fighting the fish at a good distance from the jetty. When it's close to the rocks, I can grab the leader and lay the rod down. I'll land the fish. If I'm going to release it I'll pop the jig out without ever removing the fish from the water. If I'm gonna keep it, I'll run a rope thru the gills, lift my rod up to higher rocks, and climb up with the fish on the rope.

[The Iceman 6]

Yup Korkers are a must!!! Use an extra long leader when fishing of Breachways too. (What Mike P said)....

[RIROCKHOUND]

Harpoon...

[ThrowingTimber]

longer leader as long it will not hamper your cast. Korkers and knowing the area and where it would be safe to land the fish. If its a bloofish, drag it up the rox

[RickBomba]

Mikey, Frank will be upset to know you butchered his last name.
love,
Rick

[Surfster]

If I know its going to be wet/rough I carry a 7ft gaff along with me. (otherwise a 3fter resides in the Jeep)I also agree with MikeP here that you have to find a safe place to land the fish before that first cast. At least know where you want to walk the fish after you hook it. A 3 ft leader with a large swivel is nice to get the fish closer to the gaff if needed. The large swivel helps me from losing my grip on the leader and slicing my hand on the braid!
I too grab the leader and lay the rod down IN FREE SPOOL and get the fish. At least if you drop it or get swamped the fish won't leave with yer rod!
With the long handle gaff you can stick the fish and climb a litttle higher before the lift up.
I've tried the rope trick and maybe I'm not fast enough at it yet but I REALLY feel the need to get the hell outta there sooner than that and sometimes you just can't reach that fish leader or not depending on poundage of said bass.

[TheSpecialist]

Just don't fish with Ice, and Knobby during an offshore hurricane....

[CAL]

Slingah, if you're thinking about the jetty I'm thinking about down there off the tower.......

Just make sure you got your korkers and be careful at the end on the "big rock". I've seen guys split their head open there.

[NIB]

Depends on what mood I'm in I have a 6' gaff with a piece of surgical tube taped to it i where like a quiver on my back .some spots are further down I use a 9' gaff.I'll only gaff fish 15 or better.Smaller ones I go down an get or just slide em up on a wave I never let go or set down the rod.waves will make fast work of that.I also use the gaff an just stck it in there mouths or outer jaw If I wanna release em.Always cover the point I have a piece of surgical tube tapped to the backside that I stick on the point.A vertical shot in the back with a sharp point works every Time.never golf at the fish an never lift horizontally.Most times i hold the rod in my left hand an hit em with the right.Then I race back up the rocks to get the hell outa there.fish in one hand from the gills rod a gaff in the other.Sometimes when the balance is right i just leave em on the gaff an go up.

[Slingah]

thanks everybody....u guys are the best....great info

[tynan19]

I though it was illegal to gaff a striper? Or are there just certain regulations against it?

I use a long handle net and get as far down as safely possible. Definately use a spike to hold the rod.

[BigFish]

You can have that jetty fishing all for yourself Slingah...... that and "bridge" fishing Yuck!!!

[NIB]

Its all good one of the best battles I ever had was from the top of a elevated platform.