Hook types – Circle vs J hook?
Attwood 2007 – De Hoop marine protected area
The average number of
sinkers lost per day by
anglers fishing in the TNP
tagging program dropped
from 12 to 4 when they
switched to circle hooks
Tying versus Snelling Fish Hooks
• Commercial fishers in NZ use a type
of circle hook (Tainawa pattern, Jap
Hook) and snell their hooks to the
fishing line.
• Most recreational fishers tie a knot
to the eye of the hook as shown in
the diagram on the right.
• Snelling improved the observed
catch rate on circle hooks by a
staggering 30% while gut hooking
of the catch was about the same