wdfw new rule????

[Fishaholic]

anyone hear anything on us having to use circle hooks for strergeon???    Has anyone use circle hooks before on other fish?? thought about switching over to them but not sure.     thanks

[smdave]

Several potential changes to statewide white sturgeon rules were included in the 2013-2014
Sportfishing Rule Proposal process. The options mentioned included: 1) changes in areas and/or
times open to retention, including switching to catch-and-release only fisheries; 2) changes to size
limits; 3) changing to a 2-fish annual limit; and 4) changes to terminal gear restrictions (i.e. circle
hook requirement, etc.).

From page 5
http://wdfw.wa.gov/commission/meetings/2012/12/dec1512_13_summary.pdf

[lokidog]

The only thing I've seen come through from the WDFW emails is barbless hooks on the Columbia.   

Circle hooks are really good for not deep hooking fish.  One trick with them is instead of setting the hook, you just put tension on and smoothly pull.  On tuna they always hooked the corner of the mouth, but that was for trolled fish.

[cohoho]

I use Circle hooks all the time for Oversized Sturgeon....  Have used them for keeper sized too before, work great, I just got lazy on tying them up and have pre-tied J hooks to utilize......

[fair-chase]

I don't fish for sturgeon, but I use Gama's Offset Octopus Circle for other species whenever possible. One of my favorite hooks of all time.

[mallard79]

7Gill Outfitters uses circle hooks for the shark fishing he does. He just used a longer slower sweep for the hookset.

[Fishaholic]

okay what knot should i use on circle hooks? a use the snell knot and it has very failed me before, will the snell knot affect the action of the circle knot?

[7GillOutfitters]

Circle hooks work great, I suggest experimenting with different brands and sizes.  There are many different shapes on the market.  I tried a few brands that  I had less than a 50% hook up rate with on the sharks.  This is why i began modifying sickle hooks into circle hooks, bringing my hook up rate to over 90%.  I will say that they are unbelievable in preventing gut hooking, since making the switch to circle hooks, I have landed 100's of shark and not one swallowed the bait, thus ensuring a way better post release mortality rate.  The trick is absolutely to reel in any slack, and raise the rod slowly, as you reel into the fish, instead of the big aggressive hook set.

[Fishaholic]

Circle hooks work great, I suggest experimenting with different brands and sizes.  There are many different shapes on the market.  I tried a few brands that  I had less than a 50% hook up rate with on the sharks.  This is why i began modifying sickle hooks into circle hooks, bringing my hook up rate to over 90%.  I will say that they are unbelievable in preventing gut hooking, since making the switch to circle hooks, I have landed 100's of shark and not one swallowed the bait, thus ensuring a way better post release mortality rate.  The trick is absolutely to reel in any slack, and raise the rod slowly, as you reel into the fish, instead of the big aggressive hook set.

  what knot to  you use to tie them on to your leader?

[CastleRocker]

I don't know about any special knot to use.  I've tied tens of thousands of them on gangions for halibut and cod.  Never had an issue.  They will outfish a J-hook by a long ways though.

[Fishaholic]

okay. well thank you guys have a merry christmas and a happy new year