Patent ID: 8813414

Claim:
A fishing gaff comprising: (a) an elongated shaft; (b) a fish hook including a pointed free end rotatably affixed to one end of the shaft, the hook having first and second dispositions, the first disposition wherein the hook is open for gaffing purposes and the second disposition wherein the hook is folded back against the shaft to block the pointed free end for safety; (c) a mechanism for releasably locking the hook at the first and second dispositions; (d) a button for releasing the hook from either of the first or second dispositions; and (e) a resilient pad where the pointed free end is seated when the hook is in the second disposition; (f) wherein the shaft comprises a linear first handle grip affixed to another end of the shaft opposite the fish hook, a second handle grip collinear with the first handle grip and disposed intermediate between the first grip and the fish hook, and an elongated forward shaft segment connecting between the second handle grip and the fish hook, the button being disposed between the first and second handle grips and the pad being affixed to the forward shaft segment.