Best Fishing Gaff for boat, kayak and ice fishing

What is a Gaff Hook

A gaff, in fishing, means a pole handle with a sharp hook attached on the end of it. This is widely used to stab big fish, and after that to lift large fish either onto shore or into the fishing boat. When using gaffs, there would be several things you have to think about.

This means gaffs to be used should have the appropriate parameters, the latter depend on the type and weight of the fish you are targeting on as well as the height of your fishing boat freeboard.
As a matter of fact, gaffs come in a variety of sizes and types. Most often, the leading companies offer their popular models with gaff handles made from different materials. Aluminum or fiberglass as the materials used to manufacture fishing gaffs got recently their advocates though.

There are two main classes used by both professional and recreational anglers: for kayak fishing, for fishing from a boat (Fishing Gaffs and Flying Gaffs) and for winter fishing.

These are separated by their basic design: there are solid, folding and telescopic options offered. When fishing from a schooner having high board it often occurs the problem: it’s hard to use a harpoon dart on large fish. Strong elongated models from leading manufacturers will be your best choice in such a case. Here is the list of options to choose from: AFTCO, Top Shot, Sea Striker, Cuda, SANLIKE, HT.

TOP 5. Best Fishing Gaffs at a Glance

• AFTCO GFA354LGLD – Editor’s Choice, Best Overall Fishing Gaff (Review).
• AFTCO Tapered Fiberglass – Excellent Fiberglass Gaff (Review).
• Cuda 4-Foot Carbon Fiber Gaff – Nearly the same as AFTCO (Review).
• Top Shot Fixed Gaff – The most expensive, extremely handy, having non-standard diamond-shape hook option (Review).
• Sea Striker SS348 – Good cheap fishing gaff for the amateur (recreational) fisherman (Review).

Pick The Top Fishing Gaff

10 Best Fishing Gaffs Compared:

TOP Fishing Gaff Reviews

AFTCO GFA354LGLD Review

Editor’s Choice, best overall fishing gaff.
Introducing our Editor’s Choice fishing gaff featuring both an amazing reach and a great grip! Even more guys, this ultra-sharp and high-quality gaff offers an angler a high speed being literally unmatched as for its sharpness, action, and strength.

PROS:

• Unmatched sharpness and durability stainless steel hooks featured;
• Enjoy the great performance of its triangular real marine aluminum sharp hook for your best catch;
• High-performance corrosion-free materials used when constructed;
• Specially tapered item for your ultra speed and great accuracy action;
• Reported as being extremely durable, super-strong and ultra-lightweight;
• Specially designed (molded in black) non-slip heavy grip comfort handles;
• Featured is the unique moisture-out vinyl system configuration of handles;
• The item floats if dropped in action;
• Corrosion resistance ensured by the specially crafted anodized gold finish to confront rough media;
• Actual non-slip performance due to the optimized rugged black molded hand grips;
• Vinyl (black) butt caps to go with;
• All stainless steel hooks are designed so that the triangular point is easy-to-sharpen option.

CONS:

• May come pricey for those seeking economical options.

AFTCO Tapered Fiberglass Review

Excellent fiberglass gaff. This next in the row gaff can give you all you are looking for in a lightweight yet strong and enormously durable gaff!
PROS:

• Revolutionary new material used when crafted;
• Extremely strong yet lightweight;
• Performs bending without breaking due to the flexibility obtained from the advanced technologies applied and tooling used; this is totally capable of hooking your catch without ripping it through!
• Available and comes in a variety of lengths optimal for your purpose, as well as features different hooks package;
• Special design and fiberglass used ensure the unique strength and lightweight;
• Floats with ease if dropped;
• Featuring special epoxy finish and progressive heads for your extra firm grip and better comfort;
• Be sure, all fiberglass gaffs within this range come in a variety of lengths and feature hooks ready for your hunt;
• Stable and firm grip assured by large mushroom rubber heads on each handle butt even for slimy wet hands!

Cuda 4-Foot Carbon Fiber Gaff Review

Nearly the same as AFTCO. This gaff is nearly the same as AFTCO model and features a modern lightweight and strong day saver to fit your tasks in nearly all applications.
PROS:

• Patented stainless steel head of the gaff makes it visually unique and provides for its perfect performance!
• Overall length is a 4-feet gaff plus a 2-inch hook; floats if dropped;
• Lightweight, durable and extremely strong to break;
• Featuring a special shaft with grips and cord attached to them made from carbon; it’s highly floatable and will never sink in action;
• The item features a special safety tip protector;
• One of the most specific features of the gaff is its Manufacturer’s Lifetime Warranty!

Top Shot Fixed Gaff Review

The most expensive, extremely handy, having non-standard diamond-shape hook option. As a matter of fact, all top shot stick gaffs usually look like the same designs of stainless gaff head as top shot flyers.
PROS:

• Here is a special semi-rigid construction used for the fiberglass handles featured; this is capable of being deflected even up to 25 degrees until released from a load, thus not breaking under extreme conditions;
• Totally impervious to corrosion unlike its steel rivals;
• All top shot gaffs are meticulously handcrafted from the stainless steel of a finest marine grade;
• Featuring each and every head being specially formed as a relief slots item for the flex to be controlled by an angler, and then heads are ground as triangles and finally diamond polished;
• Here a perfect progressive design, outstanding performing abilities, and ultra-durability are featured;
• No compromise of the quality in favor of its cost!
• Enjoy the right thing and literary one of the best yet expensive gaffs available on the market!

CONS:

• The cost. But the thing is well worth the amount it costs!

Sea Striker SS348 Review

Good cheap fishing gaff for the amateur (recreational) fisherman. Note: hook sharpened by hand here!
PROS:

• A great and firm grip even with wet hands!
• Featuring stainless extra-sharp hook head.
• Designed and tooled with the same professional technologies as the more expensive models utilize;
• Safety metal hook cover provided;
• Made for a devoted fisherman and leisure hunter equally;
• Functional and comfortable handle grip ensured!
• Great option for the budget!

CONS:

• Does not feature a telescopic handle.

Things to Look for in a Best Fishing Gaff

Length

The most versatile come the models having gaff handles ranging from 4 to 6 feet and a hook from 2 to 4 inches, made from stainless steel. Long fishing gaffs often come up to 12 feet.

Material

As we already mentioned above, most manufacturers make gaff handles from aluminum or fiberglass. One for one, aluminum and fiberglass gaffs are reported as those possessing nearly similar strengths, both modifications would last for many years. Hooks are regularly made of high-grade stainless steel.

Design

Apart from the typically used fishing gaffs in the round-bent style, many other designs of fishing gaffs (like the diamond-shape hooks made by Top Shot Tackle) have gained popularity. To operate offshore, experienced kayak anglers regularly use their harpoon-style gaffs when for fish within 200 – to 500 pound weight range or even beyond.

How To Use a Gaff

Gaffing Tips:

• First, make sure your gaff hook is positioned face down and toward the boat; the fish in this situation is actually brought alongside;
• Second, lead the fish! Note that refraction of the water usually makes the fish look more forward than they actually may be;
• Bury the gaff in the fish, into the forward shoulder, make sure it is not the tail end; You must always aim for the top of the fish, which means actually toward the head. Do like this for more control and to protect the meat, of course;
• Once a fish is on your gaff, you should either back off or disengage the reel;
• Never attempt to gaff a fish too deep and beyond your sure reach. Try to remain always patient, and usually choose for your clean shot;
• While getting ready for the gaff, never lift the fish’s head out of the water;
• Basically, look for a high quality gaff to purchase. Remember that there is no compromise!

Flying Gaffs

The fact is, anglers who target marlin, shark or tuna efficiently use a popular gaff modification called a “flying” gaff. This specially designed gaff is in all cases provided with a special long rope that is tied to the base of the gaff hook, that is on the end of the gaff.

How To Use a Flying Gaff

To be specific, a “flying gaff” is a kind of a specially designed gaff widely used by expert anglers to subdue, secure and control very large fish. The hook part of this type of gaff (referred to as “the head”), like a harpoon’s dart, functionally detaches as soon as any sufficient force has been used on it. The head usually remains secured to a fishing boat with a heavy rope or a cable.

How To Tip

Flying gaffs are regularly used by all experienced offshore anglers.

• tie the rope to a steady boat cleat/buoy float it with the purpose of further bringing it inside the boat;
• your flying gaff hooks should be not longer than one-third of the potential fish width;
• a fish being about 2 feet in width needs about an 8-inch hook to be used;
• a gaff will last for many years when you only gaff fish that are ready.

Caution!

Remember that as soon as the fish is gaffed, a quick jerking your pole will detach the gaff’s hook. This action would leave your fish with the gaff hook in it. And you would remain with the other end.

Should you lever the handle against a gunwale or boat’s chine or when using the gaff of a wrong size, then expect to have unpleasant or annoying failures.

Best Ice Fishing Gaff

When going for your ice fishing in winter, your gaff should be your reliable tool. There is no place for a compromise.
Of course, during the open water season you can use a landing net. In winter it is simply no option to put it in the hole.

A gaff will make possible taking your desired trophy out from the hole without touching the sharp teeth and spiny fins of the fish with your hands.

Pick The Best Ice Fishing Gaff

How To Use a Ice Fishing Gaff

• Put the fish head in the hole;
• Lower the hook into the hole and put the hook under the gill cover;
• Gently pull the fish, without loosening the tension and without making sudden movements.

How To Sharpen Gaffs

As a matter of fact, anglers tend to use the number of different techniques if they need to sharpen their gaffs. Some of them just put it in the vice and hand file it with a fine metal file. The other use their Emery cloth for a cone since it keeps the shape easier, also a sharpening stone is widely used, like on hooks. They even use a Dremel with grinding disk kit to achieve their ends. Reported are some simple techniques with a belt sander (fine grit black belt). It usually depends on the specification, situation, angler’s skill and experience.

To tell the truth, a gaff often gets dull and out of use, thus we recommend to sharpen gaffs for taking an advantage of them. The right thing to do will be sharpening your hook on a regular basis, meaning after each use. It would be far better than to wait until it is blunt and needs to be restored. Read on to learn the How-to.

Instructions

1. Place the gaff into the vise or clamp it. Use your work bench, positioning the hook along, facing upwards, and then secure it appropriately;
2. Now start sanding the gaff hook using a piece of sandpaper;
3. Then file the tip over on a particular hook, making sure to apply the same volume of pressure to any angle of the hook. File down the particular tip, making sure you are keeping the tip cone-shaped as long as you go;
4. Sand the tip down all over again to remove any remaining burrs or metal scrapes;
5. Remove the hook from the vise or clamps, store the gaff safe until your next use of it.