Circle Hooks - Catch and Conserve

Copied from Fishing Lines the newsletter
article by Al Adams

There always seems to be something new to buy or try in our angling pursuits towards landing more fish. But what if there was a piece of tackle which produced outstanding hook up ratios, has been in wide use world wide for a long time and may improve the survivability of fish you choose to release?  It's a hook that is experiencing a tremendous resurgence of popularity by some of the world's top anglers.  The device is called a circle hook and it may change the way you fish and your impact on the marine resource. Catching: Circle hooks have a built in, mechanical hooking feature.  As the pressure increases on the line and the fish, the hook is drawn towards the point of resistance, most often the hinge of the jaw or some point along the jaw.  The progress to this point is generally unimpeded because of the inwardly curved point of the hook. When the hook begins the turn around the point of resistance, it rotates and sets itself firmly with surprising consistency. What you have to do as an angler to allow this process to occur is just let it happen.  Don't set the hook!! You will yank the hook out of the mouth of the fish almost all of the time if you "strike" hard when you feel an interest in your bait.  Just bring the line tight and begin reeling. The technique will definitely take some discipline when you're accustomed to "setting" the hook.  But even with "j" hooks, all the gyrations of yanking hard to set the hook are not necessary, and I've even been scolded by professional anglers for this behavior.  When using circle hooks, bring the line tight and start playing the fish. The advantages of using circle hooks become more apparent the more you use them: Setting the Hook: It's handled automatically by the circle hook.  When fishing with less experienced anglers or leaving a rod unattended in the rod holder, this becomes a real plus.  When fishing in deep water and considering the stretch in monofilament line, often you will not even feel a fish strike.  But with circle hooks, once you feel the tug, you're probably hooked up. Snag Resistance: Because of the inwardly turned point, circle hooks are less prone to snagging on the bottom and other objects, so less tackle is left behind. Solid Hook-ups: By virtue of its mechanical hook setting, the point of the hook is almost always driven through a point in the jaw, where it remains secure during a fight.  This is a great advantage for any fishing situation, but is revolutionizing tarpon fishing for many anglers.  Tarpon are notoriously difficult to get a solid hook-set because of their extremely hard mouths, but many anglers using circle hooks are finding that once hooked, it is more difficult for the fish to throw the hook. Lighter Leaders: With the hook set a a point in the jaw, the line is usually away from the teeth of the fish.  This allows the angler to use lighter leaders which can be an advantage when fishing for wary fish. Few "deep-hooked" Fish: The circle hook is visible and accessible in the hooked fish, allowing the angler to readily use a hook removal tool on the hook.  The incidence of fish hooked deeply is dramatically reduced, saving tackle and rigging time when the line must be cut to release a fish that has swallowed a hook.  This even holds true for catfish! There are many different techniques for rigging a circle hook (or any hook) to a bait, but the rule of thumb for any method is to not impede the ability of the hook to set.  For example, placing the hook in the boniest parts of the bait is not recommended. Bridling, which is tying the hook to the bait using a rigging needle and waxed string or a rubber band, is an excellent method allowing the hook to set itself without interference and is the preferred method for trolling baits.  For routine live baiting, hook the bait through a fleshy portion that will allow the hook to tear loose and set itself when a fish strikes. Conservation It gives no angler I know pleasure to reel in an under-sized fish or one that is intended to be released only to find it deeply hooked and damaged with a poor chance of survival.  Despite the best efforts of anglers to avoid this situation through attentive fishing technique, some gamefish seem intent on getting themselves deeply hooked.  The circle hook provides us with an opportunity to greatly reduce these instances and assist in the conservation of the resource. Many in the billfishing community have embraced the use of the circle hook as both a conservation device and an effective tool to help win tournaments.  There is a high level of passion associated with competitive billfishing for both the fish and for the competition, and the circle hook is allowing these anglers to accomplish goals and win events. There is not an overwhelming amount of scientific data currently available about mortality rates of released fish when caught on circle hooks verses other types of hooks.  However, some pioneering work has been paid for by the National Marine Fisheries Service studying issues relating to circle hooks in the bluefin tuna fishery in Rhode Island and billfish in Guatemala, and indications are that circle hooks do prevent deep hooking and foul hooking.  With increasing popularity and usage, more research seems likely. Experiment I encourage all anglers to experiment with circle hooks.  My personal experience with them has been positive and encouraging. I've landed over 40 species of pelagic and reef fish with approximately 95% of them having hook placement at some point in the jaw.  Conversations with other anglers around the state have indicated these results are typical.  I haven't targeted a species yet where the circle hook wasn't effective, but I intend to keep trying! More information about rigging and fishing with circle hooks is widely available in saltwater fishing publications.  Talk to local guides who use circle hooks, tackle dealers and fellow anglers.  The popularity of these hook is increasing and information about their use is, too.