Influence of hook types on hooking rate, hooking location and severity of hooking injury in experimental handline fishing in Kerala

Abstract

Hooking rate, hooking location and severity of wound were assessed during 163 experimental handline operation, targeted for fishes like tilapia, pearlspot and snapper. Two barbed hook types viz., circle hook (non-offset size 9/0) and J-hook (0° offset size 6) were deployed in an alternative fashion using natural dead baits viz., oil sardine and chicken waste. Circle hook had significantly lower (p<0.05) hooking rate than J-hook. Type of hook affected hooking location as 78% of the fish caught by circle hook were lip hooked, 22% deep hooked and there was no foul hooking. With J-hook, 50% fishes were lip hooked, 43% deep hooked and 7% foul hooked. The difference in severity of wounds in the two types of hooks was statistically significant (p<0.05). In fishes caught by circle hooks, 67% had minor injuries, 22% had moderate injuries and 11% suffered severe injuries. In contrast, 43% fishes caught by J-hook had severe injuries, 36% moderate injuries and 21% had minor injuries. Results suggest that use of 9/0 non-offset circle hook in the handline fishery of Kerala, India may increase the survival of escaped or released fish due to lip hooking and low severity of injuries.