Gaff vs Gaffe

http://www.answers.com/topic/gaffe
http://www.answers.com/topic/gaff

Gaffe:

1. A clumsy social error; a faux pas: "The excursion had in his eyes been a monstrous gaffe, a breach of sensibility and good taste" (Mary McCarthy).
2. A blatant mistake or misjudgment.

Gaff:

         A large iron hook attached to a pole or handle and used to land large fish.

He preferred fishing, because he knew how to handle a "gaff" (a hook used to land a fish), whereas he had bad memories of committing a "gaffe" (a social blunder) when spending time with others.