How to land a Gummy on the kayak

[Hatetangles]

Hey all ,

I've been wondering for a while how I should go about landing a gummy (thats if I ever catch one lol) on my kayak?
For the record I've only ever caught 2 gummys and that was from Stony point pier couple years ago and even then i wasn't prepared on what to do? one was about 1.3m head to tail (as per pic) and all i remember is it going crazy once it was on the pier , so my concerns are :

If its a decent size one , how do i take it out ? blunt force trauma by way of heavy stick basher to the noggin?which means i'l need to bring the appropriate weapon and store it in the hull, or is there a quick and easy way to do the deed with my filleting knife ?(maybe like a flat head through the centre of the head?) I'm thinking either way I would need to upgrade my landing net to accomodate such a ferocious challenge? and i was also wondering what to do once it's asleep?I recall when I caught my first gummy on the pier i jumped onto youtube to get some direction on how to best clean the gummy and by memory it was a matter of taking the head clean off and gutting immediately to prevent something that could ruin the meat (amonia) i think it was,

I would appreciate any advice as usual thanks !

[Tackleberry]

Forget the net I reckon they just complicate things even in the boat they are a PITA just grab it behind the head and Carefully use your knife and cut the spine stabing will only send it crazy. You must sever the spinal cord to shut them down or use a Waddy.

[Jaykay]

I haven’t caught a gummy in a kayak , but to take them out I usually apply a deep cut across the back of head then hold its head under water for a couple of minutes until he stops moving.. I reckon this is the most humane way to do the job, I don’t enjoy bashing them up.
As far as landing them in the kayak watch NEVS FISHING on the tube .This guy I think is based on Phillip Island and is a gun kayak fisherman , and has landed heaps of gummies in his kayak

[Hatetangles]

Yeah that's right , I recall now with the one I caught on the pier my mate held it down while I cut it across the width of it's head just behind the back of the head and I remember there was heaps of blood...guess i'l have to give it a shot when I get a chance to land one , il just need to pin it somehow on the yak with one hand and make the cut with the other....

[Tim399]

When I catch gummies I bring them right beside the yak, then quickly tail grab and lift them into the kayak and flip the bail arm over immediately as the shark will think it’s a crocodile and death roll (no matter how tight you hold them), this can save the line being wound up and snapping a rod. I try to restrain the shark with my legs and one hand, with the other I then hit them on the head with a bat which stops them from moving making it safer to brain them with a knife. Then I’ll cut the throat and across the base of the tail to let them bleed out. Personally I prefer this rather than cutting deep across the top of the head, because I use the head as leverage when skinning them, the deep cut across the top of the head can cause the head to fall off while I skin the shark. The fight while they are in the water is only the half of it, they can be a handful when you get them in the kayak too, it’s a fun wrestle!

[mazman]

I haven't done a lot of gummy fishing off the yak but go with something pretty similar to Tim's method.

Only thing I'll add is try to target them with single hook rigs, you don't want a gummy doing a death roll with a second hook hanging out of its mouth, recipe for disaster.

[Sebb]

Catch a gummy,
Net a gummy,
Put the gummy on the kayak.


I caught two on kayak before, not monster but was a good 80-90cm i think they were.
Pretty much what I said. Bait rod got hit, foughta bit, netted, and onto the kayak around my legs. Bled.

[Hatetangles]

When I catch gummies I bring them right beside the yak, then quickly tail grab and lift them into the kayak and flip the bail arm over immediately as the shark will think it’s a crocodile and death roll (no matter how tight you hold them), this can save the line being wound up and snapping a rod. I try to restrain the shark with my legs and one hand, with the other I then hit them on the head with a bat which stops them from moving making it safer to brain them with a knife. Then I’ll cut the throat and across the base of the tail to let them bleed out. Personally I prefer this rather than cutting deep across the top of the head, because I use the head as leverage when skinning them, the deep cut across the top of the head can cause the head to fall off while I skin the shark. The fight while they are in the water is only the half of it, they can be a handful when you get them in the kayak too, it’s a fun wrestle!

OMG Tim that's pretty full on, sounds like a real hassle TBH,but yeah I do reckon knocking it out would be a better way to go, not sure if I'm up for it , perhaps If i do get onto one i'l pedal back to sure with it LOL

[Tim399]

When I catch gummies I bring them right beside the yak, then quickly tail grab and lift them into the kayak and flip the bail arm over immediately as the shark will think it’s a crocodile and death roll (no matter how tight you hold them), this can save the line being wound up and snapping a rod. I try to restrain the shark with my legs and one hand, with the other I then hit them on the head with a bat which stops them from moving making it safer to brain them with a knife. Then I’ll cut the throat and across the base of the tail to let them bleed out. Personally I prefer this rather than cutting deep across the top of the head, because I use the head as leverage when skinning them, the deep cut across the top of the head can cause the head to fall off while I skin the shark. The fight while they are in the water is only the half of it, they can be a handful when you get them in the kayak too, it’s a fun wrestle!

OMG Tim that's pretty full on, sounds like a real hassle TBH,but yeah I do reckon knocking it out would be a better way to go, not sure if I'm up for it , perhaps If i do get onto one i'l pedal back to sure with it LOL

It probably sounds worse than it is, it’s not that bad. Only risk taking it back to shore without bringing it in the kayak is if the teeth (plates?) rub through your line before you get to shore. Also make sure it actually is a gummy and not a toothie