PRIOR TO BOARDING THE ACFT; THE CAPT OBSERVED A PAX WAITING TO BOARD WITH A 5 FT FISHING GAFF. CAPT ADVISED THE GATE AGENT THAT THE GAFF WILL NOT BE ALLOWED IN THE CABIN BUT MUST BE CHKED AND LOADED IN A CARGO PIT. THE PAX OBJECTED VEHEMENTLY.

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JUST PRIOR TO BOARDING ACFT IN MIA; I NOTICED A PAX SITTING IN THE BOARDING LOUNGE WITH A 5 FT FISHING GAFF IN HIS POSSESSION. I MENTIONED THIS TO THE AGENT AND THAT THE ITEM QUALIFIED AS A DANGEROUS ITEM. THE AGENT LATER CAME TO THE COCKPIT WITH THE GAFF AND SAID THE PAX WAS COMPLAINING VEHEMENTLY ABOUT NOT BEING ABLE TO BRING IT ON BOARD AND WANTED TO PLEAD WITH THE CAPT TO PUT IT IN THE CABIN OR FLT DECK. I TOLD THE AGENT TO TAKE THE GAFF TO THE RAMP AND HAVE IT PUT ON LAST AND I WOULD HAVE THE RAMP PERSONNEL AT LIMA TAKE IT OFF AND RETURN IT TO THE PAX AFTER HE CLRED CUSTOMS IN LIMA. THE PAX CAME TO THE COCKPIT DURING BOARDING AND PLEADED WITH ME ABOUT KEEPING IT IN THE CABIN OR THE COCKPIT AND I TOLD HIM THAT I WAS NOT GOING TO HAVE IT ON THE ACFT EXCEPT IN CARGO WITH A GATE CHK TAG. I AM VERY CONCERNED THAT THIS ITEM WAS ALLOWED TO PASS THE TICKET COUNTER -- THE ARPT SECURITY SCANNER AND PERSONNEL AND POTENTIALLY ALLOWED TO COME ABOARD THE PAX CABIN OF THE ACFT. I SUGGEST THAT ALL PARTIES AND DEPTS CONCERNED ARE APPRISED OF THE GRAVITY OF THIS SIT.