Comparative fishing performances of straight shank J-hook vs Kirby bend hook in freshwaters of Chhattisgarh.

Abstract

An attempt was made to study the hooking efficiency, hooking location and injury pattern of two widely operated hook types that were used in study area. The study was conducted in two selected sites of Dhamtari district of Chhattisgarh, that was "Rudri barrage" of Mahanadi river and its basin. Straight shank "J" hook of number 14 size (ADDYA fish hook manufacturer) and Kirby bend J-hook of number 14 size (ADDYA fish hook manufacturer) were used to assess the fishing performances. Total 60 hand line operations were targeted for catfishes like Clarius batrachus, Heterpneustes fossilis and some other Channa sp. By evaluating the CPUE of both the hooks results illustrated that the Kirby bend J hook was much more efficient than the normal J hook. The (CPUE) of normal J hook were 33.3 kg, while the Kirby bend hook had CUPE of 43.3 kg. In contrast straight shank J-hooks had 70% of lip hooking, 30% of throat hooking and there was no deep hooking, while in case of Kirby bend hook 69.2% were lip hooked, 15.3% were throat hooked and 7.6% were deep hooked. In straight shank Jhooks the severity of injury observed was 30% as minor, 50% moderate and 10% of severe injury. On the other hand, total 26 fishes caught by Kirby bend hooksrecorded 38.4% of minor, 30% of moderate and 7.6% of severe injury. Live baits, like earthworm and crickets were used on both the hook types.