State regulators will dive deeper into possibly requiring certain types of hooks be used while recreational fishing along the North Carolina coast to potentially reduce the number of fish that die after they are released.
Circle hooks have long been touted as the preferred method when catch-and-release fishing, and is already required in several fisheries.
During its quarterly meeting held online last month, the N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission voted to direct the N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries to develop different options for rules regarding the use of circle hooks when fishing with natural bait and the use of barbless or bent-barbed treble hooks.
At the August 2019 commission meeting, chairman Rob Bizzell asked for the consideration of a motion to instruct the Division of Marine Fisheries to initiate rulemaking to require the use of circle hooks larger than 2/0 when fishing with natural bait and that all treble hooks have barbs pinched down.
After discussion and a withdrawal of the motion, Bizzell asked the division to provide information on the science supporting the use of circles hooks, bent-barbed treble hooks and input on the positives and negatives of requiring their use in North Carolina waters.
Circle hooks are less likely to be swallowed by fish into their gullet than j-shaped hooks. Circle and barbless hooks also considered to be easier to remove from the jaw and throat
Fishing with circle hooks is already required for red drum in the Pamlico Sound, and while targeting sharks, striped bass, grouper and snapper in federal waters.
Circle hooks will be required to fish for sharks in all state waters beginning June 22.
Most big game tournaments that target marlin also require participants to use circle hooks.
Single, barbless hooks are required when fishing in the Roanoke River and trout waters in the North Carolina mountains.
According to a report to the commission from the Recreational Hook-and-line Discard Work Group, aside from extensive research on red drum, few studies have been conducted in North Carolina that evaluate the effectiveness of circle hooks.
The work group noted there are suggestions that off-set circle hooks negate the positive benefits of circle hooks, and that very little research exists on the effects of hook trauma by treble hooks.
Other drawbacks noted is the lack of an industry standard for circle hook style and size and that a clear definition would have to be established.
There are also certain species of fish not conducive to being caught with circle hooks, which are fished for at the same time as others that will hit circle hooks.
The group also noted that regulators will need to consider the positive and negative social and economic effects new rules, including potential decrease in angler satisfaction through decreased catch rates for some species and economic impact to anglers and tackle shops.
Once developed by division staff, the rule options would come back to the commission for its consideration.
