Abstract
AbstractPrevious studies have demonstrated that circle hooks modified with an appendage can reduce the occurrence of deep hooking in some fishes. To determine whether this modification affects total catch and deep‐hooking rate of Black Sea Bass Centropristis striata in a recreational fishery off the coast of Florida, anglers were provided with standardized gear that included one appendaged and one nonappendaged hook. Both hook types were fished equally, and a greater number of Black Sea Bass were caught on appendaged hooks (n = 301) than on nonappendaged hooks (n = 221). There was no significant difference in the mean TL (P = 0.80) of jaw‐ or deep‐hooked fish during the study. Logistic regression was applied to the data using anatomical hooking location as the dependent variable and angler, hook position, and hook type as categorical factors. Hook type was the only significant variable in the final model (P = 0.03) in which fewer fish were deep hooked on appendaged hooks (0.96%) than on nonappendaged hooks (2.11%). Our findings indicate appendaged hooks are capable of reducing deep hooking of Black Sea Bass without reducing catch rates or altering size composition of the catch.Received February 3, 2014; accepted August 14, 2014
Published Version
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