how to deal with large catch?

[Sheephead]

Originally Posted by jbl_91762

So I have a strong feeling as Im gaining experience with fishing that I will land a big boy be it YT, WSB Hali etc. I have a net but should I get a gaff and use instead? Do I kill the fish before I put it on the keeper and how are you guys killing them bash skull (what do you use) or cut gill or Iki Jime? When do you bleed them and is it species dependent? Thanks for helping the new guy.

Short:
Bleed everything your gonna eat
Never use a net, its useless on anything over 10lbs
Get a solid gaff shot or game clip it right away.
Gut after the action's over.

Long:
IMO tactics depend on what kayak you have and how comfortable you are in it. For my YT that I intend on keeping I go for a heart/collar/gill gaff shot if possible otherwise I gaff the first 1-1/2" of its belly. (meat I usually don't eat anyways. You can gaff them in the back but i've noticed that gets the meat bloody and you lose about a # doing such.

Then i'll secure the fish with a game clip (still in the water) and then rip the gill arch closest towards its stomach on both sides of the fish. Bleeding the fish is enough to kill it after 3-6min but i've became irritated watching the fish's eye's rotate to look at me so now I kill spike every fish. If you don't plan on spiking them but have one that's #35+ and your putting them inside your yak expect them to go ape shit after 4-5min. (For YT they have a ridge/bump thing above their nose/eyes and spiking horizontally through that does the job.

On my PA you can do whatever suits you best at the time. On my revo I gaff, put my hand/arm through their mouth and hold onto their gill plate then bleed (still in the water, I don't want to clean up blood), spike, and throw them in my hull.

WSB are easy. They come up, you gaff their collar, put game clip in while its in the water, re-gaff its lower jaw then pull it over the side (talking about a PA for these). Once their aboard, bleed, spike (the don't flop around but why not) use a sponge/ towel to wipe off your deck then wrap it up in the wet towel.

Gut all your fish either after the action stops or with in 2hrs. look up commercial fishing for tuna vid's you'll find a super easy way to gut fish.