Most fishing gaffs do not have a barb. In most cases, the gaff is used to swing a fish from the water into the fish box. The momentum of swinging the fish keeps it on the hook. When the action is hot and you have to gaff multiple fish, you want the hook to come out of the fish quickly so you can be ready for the next. The most common use for a barbed gaff hook is on a flying gaff. Used to snare giant fish, a flying design features a long handle and a huge detachable hook attached to a heavy rope. To land a giant fish, anglers stick the barbed hook into the trophy then detach the handle. The rope from the hook is tied to a cleat in the boat. Once the barbed hook is in the fish, the crew can use the rope to bring it to the boat.