Catch and Release- Barbless hooks

[Salmo]

We have probably been already over this but I thought I would raise it again .....

What crew’s views about using barbless hooks/trebles for C&R Angling?

Breamers are at the cutting edge of conservation angling, so you guys are already fishing for the future.

With the likelihood of increased scrutiny of angling and the effects it has on fish stocks, we may need to be more pro-active in promoting proper fish handling skills and explore new ideas about what is morally acceptable as conservation anglers. Hopefully if we come up with some intelligent ideas, which will not just be better ‘health’ wise for the fish, (especially if it’s getting put back) but will also help preserve the sport we all love.

I’m not sure what people think but how would you all feel if trebles with barbs were banned in WA?
Obviously trebles on Hardbodys swing around a bit …and occasionally fish (not just bream- mackerel, tuna, Jacks, Tailer, Trevor’s etc ) get hooked in places other than their lips…..eyes and gills are often damaged by ‘free’ trebles.

A barb on a traditional hook is to designed keep the bait on….not a lip hooked breamski….

What’s peoples views?……should we start using HB lures that are supplied with barbless trebles.

How many fish would you drop if using barbless or trebles with crusted down barbs….

Also interested in other ideas that anglers may have that might make life a little less stressful for the fish we intend catching ….then letting go to catch again

[Bear]

I personally don't think removing barbs will stop fish being hooked in the eye etc Salmo. The only way to stop that is to only have a single set of trebles on hb lures. Not having barbs will cause less damage when removing them for sure, but how much damage is done by then?

As a rule I only use some barb in comps. These days, the trebles I use have pretty fine barbs anyway, but can see how this would change with the bigger lures. I find it interesting that more effort in that area of lures is still where it was 10 years ago. Big, chunky trebles. Maybe breamers and light tackle junkies don't mind paying the extra cost of lure hardware.

[Bear]

I wonder how much more could be avoided if people used the proper nets instead of gaffing everything. I think, as you mentioned, that general fish care would do a greater service to the fish.

Thoughts?

[Salmo]

Yep agree mate....barbless trebles are still going to do damage....
I guess getting them out will be a bit easier especially if they wolf it down deep....which was my thought
but ....

Just trying to think of ideas that can be 'traded' so to speak for a better bag reduction outcome.....

I struggling to think of ideas

[Bear]

I that situation no probs, but with bream that's something I rarely see with hb's, more so with plastics. I suppose the case for doubles or single hooks on lures would be more relevant then as a method.

[Salmo]

knottless nets are a great idea

[Gaffer]

I've been giving some serious thought to barbless hooks on a couple of my harbodz and may actually make the change before I next head out just to see what difference, if any, it makes to me landing a fish.

[Superduperman]

Just for the extra ease of release i always go barbless, no lure of mine touches the water with barbs. Although the damage is already done by the treble, it's gotta be better if you get the fish back in the water without too much time spent removing a hook. I dont think i lose too many (if any at all) fish from BL trebles, the only way you'll lose them is if you let the line go slack during the fight (good way to allow blowies to dehook themselves) which in normal circumstances doesnt happen.

[breamN2wheels]

I think not matter what you will hurt the fish in some way.

I've been using barbless hooks for abit now and find its great especially when you have alot of rats around or your on a hot bite even in competition when i want to get as many fish in or in then out of the boat as possible.