Pelagic Longline Hooks - J Hook by a Circle Hook

A circle hook is a type of

fish hook A fish hook or fishhook, formerly also called angle (from Old English ''angol'' and Proto-Germanic ''*angulaz''), is a hook used to catch fish either by piercing and embedding onto the inside of the fish mouth (angling) or, more rarely, by impa ...

which is sharply curved back in a circular shape. It has become widely used among anglers in recent years because the hook generally catches more fish and is rarely swallowed. Since the circle hook catches the fish on the lips at the corner of its mouth, it usually decreases the mortality rates of released fish as compared to J-hook (like O'Shaughnessy or Octopus hooks) which are often swallowed by the fish, causing damage to the

gills A gill () is a respiratory organ that many aquatic organisms use to extract dissolved oxygen from water and to excrete carbon dioxide. The gills of some species, such as hermit crabs, have adapted to allow respiration on land provided they are ...

vital organs In biology, an organ is a collection of tissues joined in a structural unit to serve a common function. In the hierarchy of life, an organ lies between tissue and an organ system. Tissues are formed from same type cells to act together in a ...

. The circle hook's shape allows it to only hook onto an exposed surface, which in the case of a fish means the corner of its mouth. The fish takes the baited hook and swallows it, and as the hook is reeled in, it is safely pulled out of the fish until it reaches the mouth. At this point it will catch the corner of the mouth, resulting in fewer gut-hooked fish. It is important not to perform a traditional

hookset In recreational fishing terminology, the hookset or setting the hook is when an angler makes a sudden lifting motion to a fishing rod in order to pull the line and anchor the fish hook firmly into the mouth of a fish once it has gulped in the hook ...

when a fish bites; rather, just begin reeling in. Performing a typical hookset while using a circle hook often results in the hook being pulled out of the fish altogether. Studies have shown that circle hooks do less damage to

billfish The term billfish refers to a group of saltwater predatory fish characterised by prominent pointed bills (rostra), and by their large size; some are longer than . Extant billfish include sailfish and marlin, which make up the family Istiophor ...

than the traditional J-hooks, yet they are just as effective for catching billfish. This is good for conservation, since it improves survival rates after release.

Difference between J-Hook and circle hook

J-hook has a rounded throat, an upward-facing point, a straight medium-sized shank that is slightly longer than the point, and a small brazed eye. Circle hooks have a circular bend, a medium-length shank, and a sharp inward-facing point.

Notes

References

* Promjinda S, Somboon Siriraksophon S, Narupon Darumas N and Phithak Chaidee P (2008
Efficiency of the Circle Hook in Comparison with J-Hook in Longline Fishery
''The Ecosystem-Based Fishery Management in the Bay of Bengal'', pp. 167–180.

External links

Hooking fish on circles
''Stuff''. Updated 24 November 2011., Retrieved 28 January 2012. {{DEFAULTSORT:Circle Hook Fishing equipment