{"id":2409,"date":"2022-11-14T02:34:29","date_gmt":"2022-11-14T07:34:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ncseagrant.ncsu.edu\/hooklinescience\/?p=2409"},"modified":"2023-07-25T14:26:10","modified_gmt":"2023-07-25T18:26:10","slug":"do-self-releasing-hooks-minimize-fish-injuries-during-catch-and-release","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ncseagrant.ncsu.edu\/hooklinescience\/do-self-releasing-hooks-minimize-fish-injuries-during-catch-and-release\/","title":{"rendered":"Do Self-Releasing Hooks Minimize Fish Injuries During Catch-and-Release?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

A bite-shortened hook, designed to release fish without handling, shows promise.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Spotted seatrout are harvested throughout the year, with two peaks in landings: October through February and April through May. So fall means many anglers are targeting the species.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fishermen seeking spotted seatrout use hook-and-line gear with a variety of natural and artificial baits. Fishing practices and gears that minimize hook injury, handling, and air exposure can considerably improve the chances for the survival of released fish.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Research Need<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Releasing fish can help conserve their populations, but the process of capturing and handling fish also can result in injuries or death. These \u201cdiscard effects\u201d present a major conservation issue in recreational fisheries. Even if the percentage of injuries and mortalities are relatively small, fisheries where large numbers of fish are released can have cumulative discard effects that impact the population.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fishing practices and gears that minimize hook injury, handling, and air exposure can considerably improve the chances for survival of released fish. In particular, efficient dehooking substantially reduces the physiological stress in fish that typically occurs during the landing and release process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Earlier field trials with bonefish on Palmyra Atoll found fish would \u201cspit out\u201d bite-shortened hooks once they were reeled in toward the angler and the angler gave slack in the fishing line. The idea appeared promising and prompted the researchers at the UF\/IFAS Nature Coast Biological Station to begin more rigorous testing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n