We are excited to introduce you to Daryl Morita of Morita Custom Gaffs. While his gaffs are incredible tools in the fishing world, they have also evolved into works of art deserving the spotlight! Check out his story!
Q:
Where do you live?
A:
I live in Huntington Beach, California.
Q:
What mediums do you work in and what is your favorite?
A:
I make custom fishing gaffs, nets, and boat tools out of Calcutta bamboo.
Q:
What are your other hobbies, and are they related to your artwork?
A:
I love to surf and fish, which both allow me to be in a place I love, the ocean. I have been fishing since I was 5 years old and in the ocean boogie boarding as a young kid. I started surfing when I was a teenager. Surfing and fishing go together, both require a keen sense of the ocean to help you catch your targeted species or targeted wave. It was through my fishing that the need for a better gaff was created.
Additionally, my interest in building Calcutta bamboo gaffs has allowed a segway into building a bamboo bike. This was a true challenge that was taught to me by Bambu Technologies.
Q:
How did you get started and what was the evolution of your style?
A:
I bought my first bamboo gaff when I was 20 years old or so. I loved that gaff, it was lightweight, quick, and strong; it was my go-to gaff. After 10 years of hard use, the walls began to crack and split. Nothing that electrical tape couldn’t patch up, right?. Wrong, the gaff finally broke. 
After examining the gaff, I realized the bamboo gaff was made with common bamboo, not the thick-walled and super strong and lightweight Calcutta bamboo that has been used in the sportfishing fleet off Southern California for over 100-plus years.
This is how it all started. I bought some Calcutta bamboo and made myself a gaff, and my friend a gaff as a present for his new boat. 
What I did differently was wrapping around the shank of the hook, something nobody has ever done before, which has been nicknamed the “Morita Collar”. This became my signature wrap around the head of the gaff that got a lot of people’s attention and became one of many features that set my gaffs apart from the traditional wrap that ended at the bamboo’s end where the shank of the hook was hung from.
I posted some of my gaffs in the Bloodydecks Classified section in 2010 and sold a few, and then more, and more. The reviews from my customers really helped to sell my gaffs. Eventually, this hobby job became a full-time job and an LLC in 2018, and the official Morita Custom Gaffs LLC. was created.
In addition to creating the unique wrap around the shank of the hook called the “Morita Collar”, I also made my gaffs different because I fully coated the bamboo with multiple layers of epoxy to enhance the look and add more protection from the elements. It was the introduction of rod wrapping techniques on a Calcutta bamboo gaff, like the very popular tiger wrap, fade wrap, and dragon scale wraps that also set my gaffs apart from the rest. Include these features with matching boat name decals and a true customized Calcutta bamboo gaff was born.
Aside from the aesthetics of my gaffs, the material used to build the gaffs are also premium components that make the gaffs fish exceptionally well. An example is the knife-grade stainless steel hook I make in-house. These hooks come in many different sizes and are bend-proof and will not rust.
Q:
What are some accomplishments that you have achieved with your art?
A:
Starting off as a hobbyist and growing the gaff business into a full-time job as an LLC business that supports my family is an accomplishment that I am grateful for. I’m also proud of the many commercial fishermen and captains that solely use and depend on my gaffs to harvest their catch. When the catch equals a paycheck to support your family, and these guys all choose to use my gaffs, that means and says a lot.
As an example, the Wicked Tuna captains all use my gaffs on the show and on their charters. I believe 12 captains on the show’s history are believers in my gaffs. That is something that I am always excited to see on the show and very proud of.
Q:
What goals do you have for your artwork, what does the future hold?
A:
My goals are to continue to make the best Calcutta bamboo gaffs around and to constantly try to improve and create new features to enhance my product and continue to set my gaffs apart from the copycats.
Q:
Is there a message or theme behind your artwork?
A:
I think my message that I try to convey is that my products, fish as well as they look, what many customers say is “functional art”. The esthetics of my gaffs are obviously very important to me but the message I want the gaffs to project is quality. From the bamboo selection to the epoxy used, the grips, the wraps, and the custom-made knife-grade rust and proof stainless steel hooks I designed and made indicate that my gaffs are a top-notch, top-quality product, from the looks to the function.
Q:
What or who (or both) inspires you?
A:
Seeing top-quality and creative rod wrappers inspires me. I look at some of their work and it is just amazing what some of them produce. For example, Web Spinner Custom Rods by Jim Trelikes is probably one of the best most creative wrappers on this planet. He is an innovator and trendsetter in this industry.
Q:
What has been the hardest project, or what is the hardest aspect of you art?
A:
I think learning new techniques for rod wrapping, which I do on my gaffs is the hardest part. When I try something new, it does not always work out and I waste time, material, and having to cut it off is always hard. Sometimes I have to walk away and come back.
Q:
What brings you the most satisfaction or sense of accomplishment?
A:
When I finish an order and present it to the customer, seeing their expression of gratitude and appreciation of the product makes my day.
Our thanks to Daryl for sharing his story and making such amazing functional art! Reach out to him and build your next favorite gaff!
Morita Custom Gaffs
714 394-7002
