Influence of Selected Hook and Lure Types on Catch, Size, and Mortality of Commercially Troll-Caught Chinook Salmon

Abstract

Circle and J hooks of two sizes, plugs of two sizes, hootchies, and painted spoons were tested to determine their relationship to hook-and-release mortality of Chinook salmon Oncorhynchus tshawytscha. Fewer Chinook salmon and adult coho salmon O. kisutch were caught with circle hooks than with J hooks. Large J hooks caught more large Chinook salmon than did small J hooks, but the difference was not significant (P = 0.10). Large plugs caught significantly (P < 0.05) larger Chinook salmon and fewer coho salmon and sublegal (<66 cm fork length) Chinook salmon than other lures tested. Wound distribution on Chinook salmon varied (P < 0.05) with hook type; circle hooks lodged in the periphery of the mouth more frequently than did J hooks. Results indicate that, in a directed coho salmon troll fishery, the use of circle hooks could reduce incidental mortality of Chinook salmon but would substantially reduce coho salmon catch rate. In a quota-limited Chinook salmon fishery, large plugs could be used to harvest larger fish selectively, thereby reducing encounters with sublegal fish.