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12/23/20 - New Circle Hook Requirement When Fishing for Striped Bass With Bait


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That's pretty big news!  Must be non-offset circle hooks!

 

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New Circle Hook Requirement When Fishing for Striped Bass With Bait

December 23, 2020

Effective January 1, 2021, non-offset (inline) circle hooks must be used when fishing for striped bass with natural bait in all waters.
Using non-offset (inline) circle hooks significantly increases the survival of released striped bass.


Switching To Circle Hooks (On the Water Media video)

What is a circle hook?
A 'circle hook' is defined as a non-offset (inline) hook where the point is curved perpendicularly back towards the shank. The term 'non-offset or inline' means the point and barb are in the same plane as the shank.

NOTE: Not all circle hooks are manufactured the same. You must use non-offset or inline circle hooks. When the hook is laying on a flat surface, the entire hook and barb should lay flat.

Why are circle hooks required?
Circle hooks reduce the number of fish that die due to stress or injuries from being caught and released, which is known as discard or release mortality.

Specifically, circle hooks are designed to reduce occurrences of "deep/gut hooking." Studies have shown that gut hooking is a major cause of release mortality. Requiring the use of circle hooks when fishing with natural bait is the first step in reducing release mortality in the striped bass fishery.

How do circle hooks increase survival of released striped bass?
Using circle hooks reduce occurrences of gut-hooking which can cause injuries to internal organs of the fish. If a striped bass swallows the bait, the circle hook is designed to slide out from its throat and catch on the corner of its jaw. When a fish is hooked in the corner of its jaw, this also leads to shorter de-hooking times and less overall stress on the fish.

Tips for using circle hooks
When a fish takes your bait, do not sweep the rod upward to set the hook. The circle hook sets itself as the fish tries to swim away. Simply let the line come tight and fight the fish. Circle hooks are effective with both dead and live baits.

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We've been using circle hooks livelining bunker for years since we release all our fish.

Snag then transfer to another rod with a circle hook. The trick is to only hook the bunker (or chunk) in the skin, don't go too deep into the meat. You want the cirle hook to easily pull out of the bait when they swallow it and catch into the corner of the mouth. No need to let them run, they suck that bait right in. Lock it up quick and you'll get less gut hooks.

Can weighted trebles still be used for snagging bait?

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We have been using them on the Delaware River for years for stripers and catfish!

HONOR THE FALLEN
https://thefallen.militarytimes.com/
Over the years the US has sent many of its fine young men & women into great peril to fight for freedom beyond our borders. The only amount of land we have ever asked for in return, is enough to bury those that did not return. COLIN POWELL

 

 

 

 

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1 hour ago, BowhunterNJ said:

I would use 9/0 or 10/0 octopus hooks for live lining bunker for bass.  Guess I can't use those anymore...I have a bunch.  I'd imagine a lot of guys will say they're live lining for blues or sharks.  Lots of loopholes around this type of change it seems.

Can use those same hooks for your fluke teaser .

been fishing 8/0 and 9/0 on my rigs for a decade already . They work great with a 6” gulp 

Captain Dan Bias

REELMUSIC SPORTFISHING

50# Striper live release club.

 

http://reelmusicsportfishing.blogspot.com/

 

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