Fisherman Tourist

Saw this fellow fishing yesterday, 07/25, hook and land a few kings. Seemed that his wife and chrildren were there watching. I've not seen him before, tall fellow with a green hat.He had a pier cart and his own gaff.
ANYHOW, two gaff boys got there gaffs tangled With his fishing line that had the king they were trying to gaff, This guy gets his wife to bring him his gaff, He switches the Rod under his left arm, and He slip sides the gaff down in his right hand and GAFFES the King.
I've not seen that before.

I would say not a googan tourist.....I have gaffed my own fish before, but only when wearing my small gaff(spanish,but will get kings too) on my side, depending on what pier....it seemed on Panama city if you weren't in the click(regulars) they didn't really want to lend a hand.... even when I offered them to use my gaff(excuse, I don't have a gaff) ..... like gulf shores....so my gaff was worn from then on.....once they saw I would do it myself and didn't need them..... the help started....and actually I love doing it myself....but the kids have fun doing it....so be it... on gulf shores
but there is sooo many willing to help I have never felt the need on gulf shores.

amen on the gaff crew on GSP. we owe all our fish to those guys. more than willing to lend a hand. i saw several that didn't fish much because they were gaffing fish for others.

Another shout out for the GSP gaff crew.
I don't have a gaff, and I wanted to keep a Jack for sharking and they were nice enough to gaff it for me... Thanks again! :headbang:

The guy in the green hat would be me. I had no problem with the guys gaffing fish for me as a matter of fact the older of the two guys had done gaffed fish of mine that morning that I had given to him. The two guys got their gaffs tangled with each other and my line and after they tried getting it out was quickly evident that it wasn't going to happen. I seen nothing wrong with gaffing my own fish as I had to do back on my trip in May because before the young fellows get out of school and down there lord knows its hard to find someone to gaff your fish unless your a LOCAL.

I too give props to the young gaff crews out there for taking their time and gaffing someone else's fish. Don't believe you will hear either one of the guys complain about me gaffing my fish after they became tangled.

From what I have seen, some of the "older" pier mice like to gaff fish as much as catch them themselves. Nice.

I do, only to help out....but if the young ones want it....let them have it....just when there is more then 1 trying .....that's where there can be problems.....I have reeled in many times when there to gaff and see someone else going to help....head to get another fresh bait and back to fishing ....I do come prepared with 3 different size gaff's and net to help out.....but I am only an occasional visitor....[img width=25 height=20]http://i48.tinypic.com/9s5mb9.jpg[/img]

[size=12pt]If people are fishing live bait and just put out a fresh one it understandable that they don’t real in to gaff/net for some one. If using cigs or artificial baits I don’t mind reeling in to help out. If people ask, I will gladly let them borrow my gaff/net.

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When we were there in May a teenage boy was there (not a local) that was netting fish for folks with his new net that he had just bought at the pier. I caught a big spanish and he ran up and asked if I wanted him to net it for me, I told him I would be glad for him to. He dropped the net down and did a good job netting the fish, then, just as he was lifting the net over the rail, his rope came untied and dropped his net and my fish back in the gulf. This kid will make a good pier rat one day because first of all he was offering help to others and second he apologized to me for the rest of the day for loosing my fish. I wasn't worried at all about the fish but felt very bad because he lost his net while doing a good deed. I offered to buy him another net but he would not let me, so I gave him some bubble rigs and helped him catch some spanish of his own. Ya'll check your knots on your nets and gaffs!!!! :wall:

I do not consider myself a regular but make 2 or 3 trips a year down. I have always been impressed with how friendly and helpful everyone usually is. I have seldom met a Grump. I used to fish a lot with Pancho when I was down, before he went on to the big pier in heaven, and he was kind enough to share much helpful knowledge with me over the years. There were of course many other helpful people. As a result I have learned enough to often catch enough for a few meals and a few bags to freeze for the trip home. I rarely compete for the glory fish on the octi but look for the table fish that require less walking. See ya"ll soon.