2 Different Hooks

[BahamaLure]

I have been helping to develop this hook for a couple of years now, and have been thoroughly impressed with its performance so far. Here is the theory of how it works -

First, what is the biggest impedance to the initial hook up and hook penetration? The barb. Does not matter if it is a cone point, cutting point, knife edge, whatever new barb you care to mention, the fact is it gets in the way and whatever shape it is it has to be forced in. Not only that but the hole it makes going in is about twice the size of the wire the hook is made of so right there the hook is loose.

The perfect hook point is a smooth long taper cone, this will penetrate gristle and bone better than any other shape, and is also the strongest shape for holding a sharp point. Think about sitting in the dentist's chair, what shape needle would you like going into your gums? Flattened? Cutting point? Or a nice smooth tip? The best chance of a hook up usually occurs the first time the fish hits the lure so this hook gives the best chance now of that happening with no barb in the way.

By moving the barb down near the bend we have achieved the best possible penetration, and now that the hook is in there the small barb acts like a hang nail and actually holds the hook in place, unlike a regular barb all the way up that the top. This makes sure the hook stays where it is supposed to be while all the angler has to do is keep minimal tension on the line as per normal procedure.

At the end of the fight, either on deck or in water for release, once the tension is taken off the hook is simply 'unlatched' and comes right out of the fish. Very easy to remove this hook and avoid leaving hooks in fish to be released.

Lastly an added safety feature of this hook is that if you are stuck by one, it will come right back out and you will be back fishing instead of heading to the ER. Might just save your day!

Here it is, it's working name is 'Bimini Hook' but this may change in the coming weeks as it becomes available. It is being made in darkened carbon steel.

I have used the hook on and off for 2 years, caught mahi, white marlins and wahoo on it and not lost a single fish.




The other hook is a concept that has been around for a while but nobody seems to be running with it, barbless circle hooks in trolling lures. I chose a 12/0 Charlie Brown circle hook attached to a 450# bb swivel for this application.


Cut off the barb, blunted the hook point and painted it with hammerite.


Here is the rig - 500# leader, 650# cable under shrink tube



I have no clue if this is the right or wrong way to rig a hookless circle for trolling, but I have a friend who is willing to give it a go....

[jbonvetti]

A friend of mine in Panama tried it and it worked...they used a big mustad circle with the barb. Every fish was right in the corner.

[triniswordfish]

that first hook is pretty intriguing bahamalure, when will it be available to the public and by who?

[BahamaLure]

JB - I am hearing more stories of circles getting it done, a friend went 5/6 on blues a little while ago on double circle hook sets and also has over 100 GBFT on barbless circles though not trolling.

Trini - the hook will come to market hopefully by spring and even more hopefully here on your favorite fishing forum!

[jbonvetti]

I have heard of people using them sailfishing...Don't Quote me on this but I remeber hearing of a tournament where only barbless hooks were allowed ( I think it was in mexico)and alot of people liked them. The only bad thing I could think of would be there is nothing to keep the bait wether it be a floss, swivel, or wire rig.

[sancocho]

Why an angler that fish for billfish need a circle hook on a lure?

The function of the circle hook to reach the corner of the jaw of the fish is when the hook is completely swallowed, avoiding deep hooking and gills hooking,

The "J" hook on a billfish lure do not is swallowed, do not get deep hooking and do not get to the gills of the fish,

My two cents,

suerte,

[alex n]

First I want to say that innovation in this sport to me ,is the most fun, they're are a lot of followers in this game we like to play . I commend you for forward thinking . In looking at the pics I thought about the barb on the first hook. It is very close to the bend and depending on the position in the fishes mouth may not penetrate all the way. The force at the lower point is quickly changing from a direct straight on push into the fish to a lateral or somewhat sideways pull . I love the idea of a smaller barb and hole , I have looked at many barbs and thought about the hole it has to put in the fishes jaw . If the hole is large not only is it obviously a big hole but also a weaker connection to the fish, because the hole is compromising the strength of the jaw itself. Have you tested it in a dead fishes mouth by pulling on it . Like a bite.

[BahamaLure]

Sancocho - circle hooks have been proven to work in trolling lures, it's nothing new. Just because fish do not generally swallow lures does not mean circles have nothing to offer here, possibly improving the hook up ratio is I think desirable to all fishermen I am not claiming that it will, I don't know if it will, but I am going to try to find out.

Barbless circles, well the barb on a circle hook in my opinion is worthless, doesn't do a darn thing but get in the way of the initial penetration and once seated the barb is doing nothing anyway. So if we can find a barbless hook shape that might possibly improve the hook up ratio, do less damage to the fish (corner of mouth, minimal hole), stay in place during the fight and finally slip out easily (no barb in the way) then what more do we want from a hook? I know for a fact the TBF is very interested in the barbless circle hook concept for both bait and lures.

Alexn hit on why the Bimini hook was developed, its innovation and in my opinion, pure genius by the inventor (not me). When he told me he re-designed the J hook I thought he was nuts until he put this hook in my hand. Being a part of this kind of thing is actually more rewarding than landing a big fish for me I guess that's my inner engineer coming through!

[R'nR Bob]

"First I want to say that innovation in this sport to me ,is the most fun, they're are a lot of followers in this game we like to play . I commend you for forward thinking ." Quoting alex n......Very well said and I agree.
"Alexn hit on why the Bimini hook was developed, its innovation and in my opinion, pure genius by the inventor (not me). When he told me he re-designed the J hook I thought he was nuts until he put this hook in my hand. Being a part of this kind of thing is actually more rewarding than landing a big fish for me I guess that's my inner engineer coming through!"Quoting BahamaLure..............Again, very well said and I agree.
I have a couple of c-hooked lures out rigged like in the attached fotos. Note I am using ringed c-hooks. But, no reports. C-hook rigged hook baits attached to my spreaderbars have been working nicely. Biggest issue is finding the right guy to use the c-hooked rigged lure and get reports back. As for the barb, I think they are not needed when talking about trolling lures.

[BahamaLure]

Thanks for posting that RnR, that's great stuff! I went with the ringed and swiveled hook to give it as much freedom as possible hopefully we will have a report back in a month or so on this rig, a friend of mine will take it to Costa Rica to try soon.