Big Game fish clip question

So I ordered a game clip to see if it wouldn't be something I would use for both kayak and shore fishing. 

When I got it, i was surprised a little bit to see the sharp pointed tip.  I stared at it for a bit and thought "That would really suck to get the halibut on the loop, and then have the halibut surge forward with the clip open...impaling me in the process."

I was hoping to use it while the fish was in the water still like a second boca grip.  I think a few folks use these from what I have seen.

Am I being paranoid?  Do you actually use the pointed end or can I hammer it down to a little less point to get it through the gills?  On most things, trial and error is an acceptable method of learning.  When I'm worried about getting impaled by a steel rod alone on he water...I thought I better ask....

Pointed makes it easier to get through the gills.   I had a flat tip in the past and it was a pain in the ass.  Also,  don't use on a halibut until it's dead,  a big but could pull a game clip open easily.

I'd dull the point down a bit.  No need to be tacky sharp.  It does help in getting through the gills, but too sharp and it also hangs up (or impales you in the leg).

-Allen

I've used similar fish clips for quite a few years while spearfishing and kayak fishing, and they work very well.  The ones I bought always had a square end on the clip, so I used a grinder to make a rounded point on the tip, so it wouldn't catch on gills or other obstructions as I was stringing up a fish.  You should feel comfortable modifying the tip of your stringer in any manner you prefer.  It only takes a minute on a grinder, and you could even probably use a file.  The stringer doesn't need to be sharp.  It just needs to be pointed enough so it slips through the gills easily.

Round is good!

-mark-

Yup ... that
Pointed is great, sharp is unnecessary.

I usually take two clips with me. Trying to put a big fish on a clip with other fish can be a pain in the ass. Five or so bottom fish is about all one clip will hold too.

A little bummed to hear Lee say it's not so good on Big butts and Funngunnin's 5 bottom fish capacity limit.  Thing looks huge and stout enough.  I was considering adding velcro or something to better secure the pointed end once the fish was on.  I was hoping to be able to bleed out medium sized halibut while it was on the clip. 

Hmm...May have to rethink this.  It will be good when we are shorefishing reds though!  The sharp point isn't too bad then since a lot of times we run the stringer through the eyes.  Gill area and mouth are too soft when dragging fish around a river in fast current.

I'll probably just blunt it down a little bit.  So far I have just been using bungie cords.  Seems to work fine.  I seem to move away from anything rigid in my kayak.  Thanks for the info!

You can absolutely bleed out halibut up to 80 pounds on a game clip. I use two clips to hold a full bottom fish limit of 9 rockfish, 2 Ling and a cab.

A little bummed to hear Lee say it's not so good on Big butts and Funngunnin's 5 bottom fish capacity limit.  Thing looks huge and stout enough.  I was considering adding velcro or something to better secure the pointed end once the fish was on.  I was hoping to be able to bleed out medium sized halibut while it was on the clip. 

I bled all the butts I caught in Kodiak on a clip and wouldn't hesitate to do so again.  I don't like bungie for attaching game clips.

-Allen

My favorite way to attach them is a loop of climbing spectra. 

My favorite way to attach them is a loop of climbing spectra.

Paracord for me ... mainly because I had it lying around.

-Allen

Same here.  Used to do a lot of climbing.

I just use a length of cord with a carabiner on either end.

I just use a length of cord with a carabiner on either end.

Unless those are locking carabiners you need to reconsider your attachment methods. There's a whole lot of gear in Poseidon's lost and found because of carabiner fails. 

Yeah,  LOCKING carabiner is a must