Friday, November 2, 2012

Are circle hooks the only way to go for halibut?

Today is the deadline for submitting proposals for regulatory changes to the International Pacific Halibut Commission.

The Seattle-based agency has posted the proposals it has received thus far. Check them out here.

Deckboss finds this one pretty interesting. It would make circle hooks the only legal gear in directed halibut fisheries, including commercial and charter fisheries.

The proposal says in part:

Halibut tend to swallow J hooks which can be impossible to remove without damaging the fish and treble hooks are very difficult to remove from a live fish and tend to catch in the gills and cause heavy bleeding. The circle hook is most likely to hook in the harder parts of the mouth just inside the jaw, cause little bleeding and is easily removed. The purpose of this regulation is to increase survivability among fish that are caught and released for whatever reason.

13 comments:

Anonymous said...

True circle hooks would also get rid of machine baiting, auto-longlining systems which save labor and kill small halibut.

Anonymous said...

True^^^. Do away with auto baiters in the halibut fishery. 100 percent circle hooks and observers on trips other than halibut using auto baiters

Anonymous said...

Hey True. try to make sense.

Anonymous said...

It doesn't matter. the commercials have a set amount to catch its not days of fishing for them its poundage.They are going to catch their share whether j or circle hooks.

Anonymous said...

Maybe Don would be agreeable to a three hour notice to NMFS before landing fish from an extended trip, similar to federal requirement for commercial fishers. I would support if there was some oversight. This proposal has potential to be taken advantage of.

Anonymous said...

Observers, observers,observers that's the only way folks. For both the sport and commercial sector. That's the only way cheaters will never win

Anonymous said...

J hooks Tar line dorys,hand lining,things of the past,if you run rail nice an slow with circle hooks you can unhook with your gaff and never let it hit the crucifier,tiring but what the hell,hopefully most halibut fisherman are in this for the long haul,not the short pick

Anonymous said...

put charter halibut fishing on hook and release this will save quite a few halibut and also they will still have a way to make a liveing!wow what a common sence idea .there problem solved!ok?

Anonymous said...

Here's an irrelevant comment for
you, appropo of nothing, really.
Have you noticed the deterioration
of syntax and writing skills since
the advent of texting???? How
Sad! The world's goin' to hell
in a crab cart!! and old fisherman

Anonymous said...

It is the CDQ groups fault. They blog in their Native language... Yes sir, the world is going to hell (not world's going to hell) in a crab cart.

Anonymous said...


Dear friend! Do you take me 2 b your lawful text mate.2 have & 2 hold.4 dirty quotes or saucy jokes.in text messaging & in poor signal.til low battery do us part?

Anonymous said...

Hey Wesley, why'd you stop the comments on the previous thread? Afraid of a truthful discussion of one of the biggest problems in America/Alaska? A "nation" premised upon racial superiority existing inside of the borders of the USA?

And here we all thought that racism was outlawed in the 60's.

Anonymous said...

Been a long time ago fer me a l'linin but I remember, sadly, blasting off (snap-on gear) at least, had they matured, a million pounds worth of paddles - all hooked in the belly by J hooks.