THE IMPACT OF HOOK RETENTION ON RELEASED BONEFISH
Anyone committed to catch and release for bonefish will have wondered about the hooks that from time to time are left in a fish. The issue has now been the subject of a detailed scientific report from ELSEVIER highlighted in the ever-useful THE ABACO SCIENTIST (thanks to Craig Layman). The report’s main conclusions can be summarised as follows:
- Hooks, especially shallow ones, are expelled fairly quickly
- For deep-hooked fish, barbless hooks are significantly easier for the fish to deal with
- The presence of a hook does not appear to interfere with feeding
- Hook size is not a material factor
- All the test sample fish survived
Overall, therefore, this is a vindication for the policy of barbless hook use for C&R. The report concludes that it’s best simply to leave a difficult-to-remove hook in the fish. Here, guide Ishi prepares to remove a barbless hook from one of my fish caught on the Abaco Marls.
I have included a clip of the report’s front page and Abstract; and the link to a PDF of the full report for those interested in checking out the detailed scientific aspects of this research. To go direct to the general Fisheries Research section click ELSEVIER. The astounding photo is courtesy of Abaco’s conservation organisation FRIENDS OF THE ENVIRONMENT
REPORT PDF
NEW in June 2012 see later post + video CATCH & RELEASE DEMO ON THE ABACO MARLS for a quick release method with a barbless hook involving minimal contact with the fish. It isn’t suitable for deep-hooked fish or large ones, but it shows how quick the operation can be
ROLLING HARBOUR ABACO 
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Hi, I enjoyed your post! Thanks for the photo credit, and the link to my hook retention impact post & portal to the original research paper. All the best from Rolling Harbour, Abaco
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