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Something New For Tarpon Tournaments

Cajun

Cajun

Well-known member
Thought I would post a couple of pics of what I call the Stop-Loss-Gaff, its for those that fish the tarpon tournaments and the fish cannot get off the gaff once he is gaffed. Built about a half dozen different types and settled for this one. Theres roughly 8-10 hours in all the machining.Everything except the handles is stainless, and the handles are anodized aluminum.Don't know if theres any tarpon tournament folks on the forum, but thought you might like to see some more of my hard work.LOL, Later, Cajun

Gaffs%20Complete%20007.jpg


Gaff%20Finished%20006_1.jpg
 
Cajun,
Big Daddy is, IMO, the Best Tarpon Tournament guide there is. Last year during Pro Tarpon Tournament in Boca Grande he ranked 8th out of over 200 teams (that one fish that broke off would have secured 1st place). He is sponsored by TA Mahoney in Tampa.

Bob
 
if Danny is reading he better look out, Team NO MONEY...may make an appearance in the series this year. We have secured a skilled boat driver,local knowledge,an animal on the gaff,and a rod builder who understands how to reel in a fish. Just waiting to hear on the sponsor.....Danny is the man there! Wonder if he yells like the other local guides do?Guess I'll have to bump into him a time or two to see.
 
Cajun's machine work is first rate.

I took the idea of an improved barbless trap door release gaff idea to Cajun in August 2006, after last tarpon season and asked him to build a working prototype of my idea for my own use and evaluation.

We discussed my desired features and the required improvements from the original built by Kris Klingel, Sr. (Silver King Boats) for a small group of top Boca Grande light tackle tarpon guides.

Cajun got an origional trap door release gaff from Capt. Marty Scott and he and I discussed specific design changes to the one I invisioned. Cajun machined the new hinge parts, ordered a spring and assembled them. The rough prototype was then shown to a select group of tackle dealers and wholesalers for their input. All agreed it should be thoroughly tested before it was offered for sale.

I ordered a half dozen to put into the hands of top tarpon guides in Boca Grande this season to see if they would perform as designed or whether they might require additional revision. I never got them. Cajun's agreed production price was then set aside and then nearly doubled.

If and when this product is proven to work as intended in the trenches, it should be available for sales to others who want to secure a fish at the boat, but not damage the fish during the catch, revive and release process. Tarpon and other large gamefish have straitened many a production release gaff at the boat. This new one has the potential to be a significant improvement over existing options. It may or may not stand the test of real world application.
 
Yep, thats right. Big Daddy ask me to build him something that a tarpon could not get off of. I borrowed a spring loaded gaff from Capt. Marty, and did build a couple from that design and did not like it. I then hired a master machinest and engineer in N.C. to help me design one different.No one had a vision of this gaff except myself and the engineer. After many,many hours.materials,shipping to and from,this was what was produced. Each gaff has between 8-10 hours to build, not counting materials or any shipping to and from suppliers. I absorbed all the expense involved with this.There is no way to wholesale them, unless I did so at what I think my time and efforts are worth. I have sent out numerous gaffs free to select folks including Big Daddy, Capt. Marty, and some select folks across every gulf coast state to give them a try. I am confident they will do what they are intented to do. All the folks that recieved one sent me feedback after inspecting them and were impressed. So we shall see if all thats been invested was worth it. Later, Cajun
 
Cajun,

Looks like a lot of hard work & effort on your part to produce this product. Hope you sell a lot of them and recoup your R&D, prototype inve$ment and sweat equity.

I know how much work it takes to produce a product and that action & investment is needed to bring new ideas to bear fruit. I also know that talk is cheap and does not produce anything tangible other than sore ears. Hope you set the standard on this type of product.

A finished product is proof that Money (and action) talks & BS walks.............
 
This gaff has a stainless steel spring that is inside the pivot disc. Any other spring loaded gaffs on the market ( 2 ) that I could find has the springs on the outside, which would allow for damage. We have towed a 18' boat with it just to do a beginning of small test. I lucked out when I got the machinest and engineer involved, cause I got drawings and testing done by some high end equipment of a major oil filter manufacter. 3D drawings and then machines ( don't know what they are called ) that do a reality test without the actuall product. I guess they program in the drawings and then program the intended use to see what if any its flaws are, it passed way beyond what i wanted out of it. Thats why I think it will be a great tool. Anyway , anyone is welcome to come by the shop anytime, just call ahead. Later, Cajun
 
Rich,

As one of Bid Daddy's loyal customers, I will be waiting (cash in hand) for the opportunity to fish against a new team. Please let us know.

Bubba
 
Big Daddy,

I have to say I'm sorry to hear about the whole gaff thing. Seems to be the way we all learn.

Bubba
 
Cajun,

If you're looking for some Pro-Staffers over here on the east coast, we'd (Capt Ron Bielefeld & I/Team Scout Boats) would love to give it a try.

Send us (3) three sets of your business stickers & we'll put them on the sides of the boat & both trucks!!!
 
Looks good. Hopefully the gaff would be tethered to the boat in case the tarpon shakes his head after being gaffed in the mouth. This would prevent 1. the loss of such a nice gaff if it slips from the handlers hand, and 2. the tarpon could be recovered without having to swim off with a gaff being permanently hanging from it's mouth.
 
Yea, hopefully. I have heard of some snook leaving with those Boga Grips as a lip ring. I am putting a 1500 lb. test swivel in the end of the handle for such reasons. Thanx, Cajun
 
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