How to reduce release mortality of billfish

[Patudo]

Sportfisherman have been successful in helping to restore the billfish stocks by implementing circle hooks and a strong catch and release ethic. Now if we could only spread the catch and release ethic to the Bluefin tuna.

The only reason - the only reason - why sport fishermen don't treat billfish in exactly the same way as bluefin is because the Japanese won't pay as much for them.

[WAHOONBOX]

MAYBE OUR BILGES EMPTY TOO MUCH CONTAMINATION OVERBOARD.....

MAYBE THIS WOULD BE A GOOD PLACE TO START PRACTICING CONSERVATION.

[Fritz]

Hey Patudo:

He just came back into the spread, if you know what I mean.

[Pargon]

I don't see any reason to limit the use of circle hooks to bait fishing. We use them on a large percentage of our marlin jigs, vertical jigs, even on rapala's and they work. The comments that Capt. Fred made about barbless and blunted points goes even further. For me, the most effective way to hook up, and to release marlin, particularly when there are good numbers of them about is to bait and switch. A floatilla of spreader bars, without hooks, and a couple of circle hook rigged dead ballyhoo ready to deploy allows you to cover a lot of ground, match your tackle to the prey (keep one 40lb. rig for stripers, a heavier one in case of Black/Blue attack), ensure the shortest fight time, get good corner of the mouth hookups and quick release for best chance of fish survival. I know of very few fishermen who have made a sincere commitment to the use of circle hooks and then switched back to j's, but I know a bunch that won't use them due to rumours, third party anecdotes, and a general lack of understanding of the mechanics and physics involved.
David Jones

[Patudo]

The best way to get people to give circle hooks a go in lures is to put up a bunch of photos of lure caught billfish by the boat with the lure and circle hook clearly visible. Since you're catching so many marlin on circle hook lures this shouldn't be a problem for you David. I'm sure most of your clients have digital cameras. Photos speak louder than words, it's just the way fishermen are.

[Pargon]

A good idea Senor, I will set to work on that, no just marlin.