FISHING TACKLE AND COMMENTS 



been gaffed. This releasing mechanism is a marvelous 

 improvement over the old type of flying gaff. My gaff 

 was used on my 85 3 -pound broadbiil in Chile in 1941, 

 and my 1135-pound black marlin in 1952. A big hook is 

 best. 



Like the term "foul-hooked" the name "flying gaff" is 

 coming in for some unwarranted criticism. It is really a de- 

 tachable gaff that was invented to protect the boatmen's 

 hands and feet from the gaff handle whipping around when 

 it could not be detached from the head while in a green fish. 

 (Just try to hold a green fish with a gaff handle and see how 

 you Hke it.) 



The International Game Fish Association allows twenty- 

 five feet of rope and a flying gaff and any fish can be held on 

 six feet of that gear. While it has been done, it is a pretty hard 

 trick to throw a gaff at a fish and have it take hold, and it 

 would be very difficult if he were more than ten feet away 

 from the boat. It is a good rule, however, as a fish should not 

 be played on a gaff rope and, in fact, one should never have 

 occasion to do so, for with one gaff in him it ought to be 

 pretty easy to ram home a second. 



PERSUADERS 



The finest persuaders I have ever seen are also made by 

 the Tycoon Tackle Company. Sometimes called "marlin 

 maulers," the heavy sizes are made of lignum vitae and the less 

 expensive models of heavy hickory. I have taken mine every- 

 where with me and they were particularly admired by the 

 Chileans, Mexicans, New Zealanders, and Australians, who 



231 



