Fishing goes retro with circle hook

They first gained popularity 25 years ago. Now, they are poised to cross over into the freshwater market.

By MIKE SCARANTINO

© St. Petersburg Times, published July 8, 2000

Using circle hooks? Then don't set that hook.

It is said that life is a circle. What comes around goes around.

For example, clothing styles that were in vogue 30 years ago are popular again. All those television ads for older generations of music bring back memories and lifestyles of yesteryear. The same goes for fishhooks. Yes, fishhooks.

Hooks that were popular decades ago are now gaining popularity once again.

Circle hooks are some of the most ancient tools used for harvesting from the sea. Their design is timeless and effective.

Originally made from fragments of flint, bone, shell, ivory or wood, they were very crude instruments. But they worked.

The precursor to the hook was the gorge. Made from the same type of materials, it was slenderwith a slit in the middle for attaching a line. The gorge was then buried deep inside a bait. When a fish swallowed the offering, a slight pull turned the gorge sideways in the gut allowing the angler to retrieve his catch. Today's high-tech circle hooks are designed to avoid those gut-hooked situations.

In the 1960s and 70s, the commercial long-line industry began using circle hooks because they were more efficient at catching and keeping fish alive until brought to market.

However, the hooks were largely unknown among recreational anglers until approximately 25 years ago.

The first to experiment with the hooks where anglers targeting halibut in the northwest, and tarpon here in Florida. About 10 to 15 years ago, recreational anglers began realizing how effective circle hooks could be, and in the last three to four years, they have been gaining in popularity with anglers fishing for tuna, striped bass, redfish, fluke, flounder, sea trout and snook.

Circle hooks received a jump-start from the National Marine Fisheries Service when it mandated barbless circle hooks be used by west coast anglers fishing with bait, and targeting certain species of ocean salmon.

Now, they are poised to cross over into the freshwater realm. Some manufacturers are making lighter hooks for use when fishing for largemouth and smallmouth bass, trout and walleye.

Many anglers, still unconvinced of their effectiveness, think circle hooks do not work. But they do, and are often more effective than traditional J-shaped hooks.

Generally, it is the shape of the hook that causes most anglers concern.

Not only do the hooks have a circular shape, but the point of the hook turns 90 degrees toward the shank, giving the impression that the hook will simply slide out of a fish's mouth.

Despite those feelings, circle hooks are poised to make an impact on the sportfishing world. Conservationists are urging their use because their design usually results in fewer gut-hooked fish. Most times, provided they are used correctly, the hooks set in either the fish's lip, cheek or jaw.

Using circle hooks requires re-thinking your fishing strategy because they do not require the angler to rear back on the rod and set the hook.

Instead, circle hooks reward an angler for not being quick on the trigger. Since novice anglers have no preconceived ideas about setting the hook, they do well using circle hooks because they usually just start cranking.

When a circle hook is used and a fish takes the bait, there is either a thump on the line as the fish swims off, or the line simply comes taught. By cranking the reel with a steady retrieve and lifting at the same time, the hook pops from the fish's throat and slides toward the mouth where the point rotates, finally piercing the lip, cheek or jaw. Once set, the fish cannot escape.

According to manufacturers, the advantages to circle hooks are higher catch rates, a higher lip hook rate (which greatly reduces mortality), less snagging in certain bottom fishing conditions and less physical strength needed for their use.

While circle hooks are easy to use, it's important to choose the appropriate size, which becomes a matter of targeted species, line and bait size. For novice anglers this can be difficult because sizes are not standard among manufacturers.

To better understand the differences in size, anglers can find scale-sized illustrations of hooks from different companies in the 1999 International Game Fish Association guide. Beginning on page 39, there are some interesting comparisons and lots of helpful information.

Circle hooks may seem new to those who have just discovered them, but they are not. Fish hooks are coming full circle and these ancient implements, redesigned using modern materials, are an important addition any arsenal.

It must be time to get out that old fish tie again.

- If you have a question or comment, Capt. Mike Scarantino can be reached at (352) 683-4868.

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