Anglers are required to use circle hooks in some fishing tournaments because they are less likely to cause lethal injuries in billfish, such as marlin. However, research from North Carolina State University shows that broadening circle hook requirements could adversely impact charter and recreational fishing, since they make it more difficult to catch non-billfish.
"We wanted to know whether circle hooks are effective as conventional J hooks when angling for non-billfish such as yellowfin tuna in North Carolina waters," says Paul Rudershausen, a research assistant in NC State's biology department and lead author of a paper describing the research. The NC State team worked with charter boat captains and mates who were experienced with use of circle hooks to look at the efficacy of circle hooks versus J hooks when trolling offshore with rod and reel. The findings are relevant for similar fishing efforts in other waters where these same species occur.
A "circle hook" is defined as a circular hook in which the point of the hook is perpendicular to and aligned with the shank of the hook. This differs from a J hook, which is shaped like the letter J.
Studies have found that circle hooks are less likely to mortally wound billfish during recreational or charter fishing. As a result, the National Marine Fisheries Service instituted regulations requiring anglers in Atlantic billfish tournaments to use circle hooks when using natural baits. J hooks are still permitted if an angler is using purely artificial bait.
Anglers and fishing industry observers have speculated about the possibility that circle hook regulations may be expanded to fishing outside of billfish tournaments even when anglers are not fishing for billfish to protect billfish species that may be caught inadvertently.
This speculation led NC State researchers to determine whether circle hooks would be as effective as J hooks when fishing for non-billfish
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| Contact: Matt Shipman matt_shipman@ncsu.edu 919-515-6386 North Carolina State University Source:Eurekalert |
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