Harpoon vs flying gaff

[bajakian]

Originally Posted by snooknreds2

when you say you can nail stuff from far away are you still sticking through the gills or are you just hoping to get it into somewhere in the fish?

i have thought about throwing it when you cant get that last four feet, but i like to make 100%, ok well 90%, sure that i am going to hit the gills and i actually aim for the heart so i have never gotten the to throw it at the fish. instead I hold the dart like 6" right above where i want to hit and then plunge it through. that way the fish pretty much dies instantly



BAJAK what did you end up getting? did you get to use it yet?

I got the Poon with a basket of rope, poly float and three darts. I'm ready, now I just have to get a slob to the boat....

One question regarding rigging(ok maybe two) - Do you have the rope tied directly to the dart or do you have some kind of system that allows you to disconnect it and attach another dart, maybe like a loop and caribeener clip? Also do you have the main shaft attached to the boat with a rope or 600 lb test and how long is it?

[shipmate bill]

Originally Posted by snooknreds2

when you say you can nail stuff from far away are you still sticking through the gills or are you just hoping to get it into somewhere in the fish?

i have thought about throwing it when you cant get that last four feet, but i like to make 100%, ok well 90%, sure that i am going to hit the gills and i actually aim for the heart so i have never gotten the to throw it at the fish. instead I hold the dart like 6" right above where i want to hit and then plunge it through. that way the fish pretty much dies instantly

I learned to harpoon while i was giant fishing up north. Basically i look at swordfish in the same manor. I try and connect another line from the fish and the boat (the harpoon line). I'm really trying NOT to kill the fish but just have another connection made to them. Then i use the dart line and the fishing line to bring the fish to the boat under control and either gaff and swing them or stick them in the tail and put the rope on them and start dragging, depending on the size of the fish. I make my own harpoons and make them very heavy so i can get really good penetration and not have to worry as much about pulling them. Ideally i'm poking them rather than throwing but as you say, when you can't get them that last 4 feet, its nice to feel confident in letting fly with the dart. The other thing is 90% of the time i'm throwing a harpoon i have a charter on the boat. Its just another big show and charters love to see that stuff. Throwing harpoons is like bang sticking sharks or cast netting bait, most people don't see it happen and feel like they got their money's worth out of a charter when they see something they know they have no idea how to do.

[shipmate bill]

Originally Posted by bajakian

I got the Poon with a basket of rope, poly float and three darts. I'm ready, now I just have to get a slob to the boat....

One question regarding rigging(ok maybe two) - Do you have the rope tied directly to the dart or do you have some kind of system that allows you to disconnect it and attach another dart, maybe like a loop and caribeener clip? Also do you have the main shaft attached to the boat with a rope or 600 lb test and how long is it?

For rigging the harpoon, take the end of your line and put it through the clip or ring on the butt end of your harpoon. Then connect it to the dart. Put the dart on the iron (shaft) and pull the line tight. Rubber band the harpoon line around the butt of the harpoon so that the dart won't fall off when you're trying to dart the fish. Once you harpoon the fish it should swim off and dragging the harpoon will disengage the shaft so that the dart is in the fish and the shaft is dragging behind it. The clip you ran the line through keeps the shaft on the harpoon line. If the dart pulls the shaft and everything will come back when you pull the line in. Since the dart should hold, you'll get the shaft back sometime when you pull the dart line back in. I put a clip in between the harpoon line and the cable on the dart so after i land one fish i can unclip and leave the head in the fish and still re-rig the harpoon for the next fish. I recover the heads later when i'm cleaning the fish.

[Shortfin]

Originally Posted by bajakian

I was going to buy a flying gaff but friend of mine suggested that a harpoon might be a better choice. Any body have any thoughts on the differences and pros and cons? Does anybody that uses a harpoon prefer a certain type or length, and why? I'd appreciate the insight of the forum members.

Bajakian

I think your question was answered quite well by the experienced members on this site.

I would like to add one thought,

The Length of the average fly gaff is 6 feet,

This would mean that the Fish would need to be with in 5 feet of the gaff man to get a purchase on the fish?

With a harpoon your reach is only limited to your ability to throw the POON
Many fish have been stuck and subdued up to 20 feet from the vessel

Throwing it is up to the individual situation and not always necessary

we designed the POON with a 2.2 lb head for pinpoint accuracy while traveling thru the water, add the shank and the dart and you get 2.5lbs of weight forward inertia.

The Poon is 10 feet over all in length it will break down and stores in a 4 foot carry bag

In addition The Poon is plated with a super hard finish to with-stand the harsh saltwater enviroment .

Best Regards

Chris

[snooknreds2]

Originally Posted by POON MAN

Bajakian

I think your question was answered quite well by the experienced members on this site.

I would like to add one thought,

The Length of the average fly gaff is 6 feet,

This would mean that the Fish would need to be with in 5 feet of the gaff man to get a purchase on the fish?

With a harpoon your reach is only limited to your ability to throw the POON
Many fish have been stuck and subdued up to 20 feet from the vessel

Throwing it is up to the individual situation and not always necessary

we designed the POON with a 2.2 lb head for pinpoint accuracy while traveling thru the water, add the shank and the dart and you get 2.5lbs of weight forward inertia.

The Poon is 10 feet over all in length it will break down and stores in a 4 foot carry bag

In addition The Poon is plated with a super hard finish to with-stand the harsh saltwater enviroment .

Best Regards

Chris

hey chris i bought my poon and got RAPED when i did. BUT it did not come with a case. how much extra are they do you sell them? if so shoot me a pm please

[snooknreds2]

Originally Posted by shipmate bill

For rigging the harpoon, take the end of your line and put it through the clip or ring on the butt end of your harpoon. Then connect it to the dart. Put the dart on the iron (shaft) and pull the line tight. Rubber band the harpoon line around the butt of the harpoon so that the dart won't fall off when you're trying to dart the fish. Once you harpoon the fish it should swim off and dragging the harpoon will disengage the shaft so that the dart is in the fish and the shaft is dragging behind it. The clip you ran the line through keeps the shaft on the harpoon line. If the dart pulls the shaft and everything will come back when you pull the line in. Since the dart should hold, you'll get the shaft back sometime when you pull the dart line back in. I put a clip in between the harpoon line and the cable on the dart so after i land one fish i can unclip and leave the head in the fish and still re-rig the harpoon for the next fish. I recover the heads later when i'm cleaning the fish.

Dude DO NOT DO THAT!!!!!!!!!!!

Ok especially if you are trying NOT to kill the fish do NOT attach the headd to the pole that way. If you get a green fish and stick it with out killing it the fish will jump around and since the pole is attached to the same line the fish is, the fish in turn will be slnging the 15 foot long ple around with it also

Instead attach a seperate line to the end of the pole and a second line to the head. I like your idea of a disconnect to change heads quickly though
this way you stick the fish. let it run momentarely while you set the pole on the ground. now grab the line that the poon head is attached to and you have your direct connection tot he fish with out the 15 foot pole being slung into the side of your head

[bajakian]

Originally Posted by POON MAN

Bajakian

I think your question was answered quite well by the experienced members on this site.

I would like to add one thought,

The Length of the average fly gaff is 6 feet,

This would mean that the Fish would need to be with in 5 feet of the gaff man to get a purchase on the fish?

With a harpoon your reach is only limited to your ability to throw the POON
Many fish have been stuck and subdued up to 20 feet from the vessel

Throwing it is up to the individual situation and not always necessary

we designed the POON with a 2.2 lb head for pinpoint accuracy while traveling thru the water, add the shank and the dart and you get 2.5lbs of weight forward inertia.

The Poon is 10 feet over all in length it will break down and stores in a 4 foot carry bag

In addition The Poon is plated with a super hard finish to with-stand the harsh saltwater enviroment .

Best Regards

Chris

I bought the Poon with three darts, a basket of line and a buoy. Its a nice set up. Now all I need is a big fatty to stick....

[shipmate bill]

Originally Posted by snooknreds2

Dude DO NOT DO THAT!!!!!!!!!!!

Ok especially if you are trying NOT to kill the fish do NOT attach the headd to the pole that way. If you get a green fish and stick it with out killing it the fish will jump around and since the pole is attached to the same line the fish is, the fish in turn will be slnging the 15 foot long ple around with it also

Instead attach a seperate line to the end of the pole and a second line to the head. I like your idea of a disconnect to change heads quickly though
this way you stick the fish. let it run momentarely while you set the pole on the ground. now grab the line that the poon head is attached to and you have your direct connection tot he fish with out the 15 foot pole being slung into the side of your head

This is how i've alway rigged harpoons. Few of the multitude of fish i've darted have jumped (i'm from NJ, we deal with tuners more than swords) The few fish that have jumped usually either just wiggle the shaft enough to get it out of them and fall harmlessly then its dragging behind them or jump and have it stay in them. i've never had one come back at me but i can see how that could seriously cause some major cockpit issues. For the most part i'm NOT throwing but rather jabbing, at which point i hold the shaft and let the fish swim off with just the head in them. If i throw, the fish is usually deep enough or far enough away that the shaft wouldn't come back in the boat. i just get leery about having a line attached from the harpoon to the boat and having the line come tight and not having the harpoon be completely buried in the fish. I've never had a harpoon pull and i'd like to keep it that way by getting maximum penetration. More likely, when i jab, i bury the connector between iron and the shaft into the fish and the shaft stays there until i pull it out with the fish on deck

[snooknreds2]

Originally Posted by shipmate bill

This is how i've alway rigged harpoons. Few of the multitude of fish i've darted have jumped (i'm from NJ, we deal with tuners more than swords) The few fish that have jumped usually either just wiggle the shaft enough to get it out of them and fall harmlessly then its dragging behind them or jump and have it stay in them. i've never had one come back at me but i can see how that could seriously cause some major cockpit issues. For the most part i'm NOT throwing but rather jabbing, at which point i hold the shaft and let the fish swim off with just the head in them. If i throw, the fish is usually deep enough or far enough away that the shaft wouldn't come back in the boat. i just get leery about having a line attached from the harpoon to the boat and having the line come tight and not having the harpoon be completely buried in the fish. I've never had a harpoon pull and i'd like to keep it that way by getting maximum penetration. More likely, when i jab, i bury the connector between iron and the shaft into the fish and the shaft stays there until i pull it out with the fish on deck

to each there own