Harppon vs Flying Gaff

[floridascuba]

I currently have a flying gaff that my dad use to use when shark fishing back in the day. Now that I got hooked into Sword fishing, I am going to go it. However, I am debating getting a harpoon. I know a few people that have both. So what are the pro's and con's betweent the 2?

[Shark Tagger]

Pooning is the only way to go in my opinion.

We have yet to have a poon dart rip out...

We use a Poon www.poonharpoons.com

[Flyin By]

I use a poon also But have a flyer on board every trip.

[floridascuba]

Originally Posted by Flyin By

I use a poon also But have a flyer on board every trip.

Then I should rephrase my question. When would you use a flying gaff over a harpoon? Depends on the size of the fish?

[Flyin By]

NO, The dart is very effictive to control a fish of any size (47") or above. The flyer is in the event we have to control the back portion of the fish to get it in the boat. Flyers are great but if one pulls loose or our of the fish its comin at you at light speed. I know som people who put a few feet of hose over the rope to recuce recoil if this happens.

[Captain Ollie]

I carry a big flyer, two harpoons, (loaded before we leave the ramp) and three more fixed gaffs and a meathook handgaff. Even with all that steel on the boat we dart every single legal fish that comes to the boat. Never ever had a loss of a fish once we fed them the dart. I know we would have lost more than a few of them over the years as they were foul hooked and went nuts when we stuck them resulting in the hook falling/ripping out.

ALWAYS make sure you have the dart loaded before you even put out a line. I've had many fish swim right to the boat like they didn't even know they were hooked and finished them off before they ever even had a chance to start the fight. Never would have been able to do that if we were fumbling around all juiced up on adrenaline trying to put the dart together.

[DORADOsteve]

Originally Posted by Captain Ollie

ALWAYS make sure you have the dart loaded before you even put out a line. I've had many fish swim right to the boat like they didn't even know they were hooked and finished them off before they ever even had a chance to start the fight. Never would have been able to do that if we were fumbling around all juiced up on adrenaline trying to put the dart together.

We think alike!

[BigGameNick]

for sure go with the dart

[freezorburn]

Sorry, Conflicting opintion here, Don't be a sissy just Gaff it.

I'll gaff anything short of a whale. If I get scared or it's too big of a fish use the flyer.

two 6" Gaff and one 8" Flyer all you need in my book. Leave the harpoon's to the Jap whaleing vessles. I have a few old salts in the family and they laugh at the Dart. Also I lost a big mako after the dart pulled 2 times.

Don't get me wrong harpoons have there place. like hanging on the wall for decoration.

[Boboe]

I'm with Freezorburn. Gaffing takes a little more skill too. Get good with a gaff and laugh at all of those who use tampoons and are inferior.

[broadminded]

hey i remeber a while back somone posted some pics of a nice fish where they stuck the dart clear through the fish's head... in one side of the gill plates and out the other side.. anyone know where i can find these pics?

[DORADOsteve]

broadminded,
Here's a few . .




I LOVE sticking these things!

[flcapt]

after you have fished long enough and lost a few big fish waiting for them to get close enough for the flyer you too will switch to a harpoon. When fighting a large fish makos esp. so many are lost trying to get the fish close to the boat when if you had the poon ready you are able to stick him while he is still slightly away from the boat. Only a foot or two will make the difference. Over the years I have lost so many large sharks and tuna that go nuts when you try to bring them to gaff range. In the old days no one used a poon except for the stick boats but like everything else that works most things trickle down to the masses.
I laugh at the guys that say its a matter of sportsman's ship not using a poon, tell that to the guys after you lose that once in a lifetime fish how happy they are that you lost it after 4 hours under the boat! If you are not in a torny use the poon you will never go back.
One point I didn't hear anyone mention is the safety factor when fishing at night or the day for that matter. i have had a number of big makos and thresher's jump as soon as the point of the gaff touches them, Have had many makos spin uncontrollably as soon as the gaff hits them, bending the gaff handle and ripping the head of the gaff off before it can be released correctly. Many bruised and broken arms have been accounted for this way. A mako will spin so wildly on the gaff, at times I have had every bit of gaff rope used up in a split second and found myself holding the rope inch's away from his mouth, this all happens before you can even let go of the rope.
Now I will say that large swords by the time you get them to the boat are usually much quieter so you can get away with using a flyer with little problem, but why take the chance when you get back to the dock you don't get any hero points for using one!

Just my 2 well maybe 50cents worth!

[Dick_Formula233]

I don't have a 'Poon, but being an old scuba diver and speargun fisherman I have rubber sling powered spearguns. A 48" stainless shaft is fitted with a 4" slip-tip that penetrates the fish similar to a 'poon dart. The shaft comes out of the fish as soon as you pull a little strain on the cable, but the tip turns sideways and stays in the fish. Ideally, you stick it in a gill plate. We used to take Goliath Grouper as big as 600lb with these, as well as 6-7 ft Tarpon. Once you get that tip behind a gill plate, that bad boy is going nowhere.

It seems like a good way to anchor a fish boatside. Anyone ever do this??

[freezorburn]

Originally Posted by Dick_Formula233

I don't have a 'Poon, but being an old scuba diver and speargun fisherman I have rubber sling powered spearguns. A 48" stainless shaft is fitted with a 4" slip-tip that penetrates the fish similar to a 'poon dart. The shaft comes out of the fish as soon as you pull a little strain on the cable, but the tip turns sideways and stays in the fish. Ideally, you stick it in a gill plate. We used to take Goliath Grouper as big as 600lb with these, as well as 6-7 ft Tarpon. Once you get that tip behind a gill plate, that bad boy is going nowhere.

It seems like a good way to anchor a fish boatside. Anyone ever do this??

VERY DANGEROUS! I wouldn't fire a spear gun above water! The shock cord could send the spear right back at you!