Hunting Washington Forum

Other Activities => Fishing => Topic started by: Fishaholic on December 22, 2012, 08:02:26 PM

Title: wdfw new rule????
Post by: Fishaholic on December 22, 2012, 08:02:26 PM: 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
Title: Re: wdfw new rule????
Post by: smdave on December 22, 2012, 08:08:58 PM: 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 (http://wdfw.wa.gov/commission/meetings/2012/12/dec1512_13_summary.pdf)
Title: Re: wdfw new rule????
Post by: lokidog on December 22, 2012, 11:50:45 PM: The only thing I've seen come through from the WDFW emails is barbless hooks on the Columbia. :dunno:

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.
Title: Re: wdfw new rule????
Post by: cohoho on December 22, 2012, 11:56:36 PM: 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......
Title: Re: wdfw new rule????
Post by: fair-chase on December 23, 2012, 12:12:34 AM: 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.
Title: Re: wdfw new rule????
Post by: mallard79 on December 23, 2012, 08:27:50 AM: 7Gill Outfitters uses circle hooks for the shark fishing he does. He just used a longer slower sweep for the hookset.
Title: Re: wdfw new rule????
Post by: Fishaholic on December 23, 2012, 01:19:59 PM: 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?
Title: Re: wdfw new rule????
Post by: 7GillOutfitters on December 23, 2012, 01:28:54 PM: 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.
Title: Re: wdfw new rule????
Post by: Fishaholic on December 23, 2012, 03:28:22 PM: Quote from: 7GillOutfitters on December 23, 2012, 01:28:54 PM
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?
Title: Re: wdfw new rule????
Post by: CastleRocker on December 23, 2012, 03:50:36 PM: 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.
Title: Re: wdfw new rule????
Post by: Fishaholic on December 24, 2012, 01:07:00 AM: okay. well thank you guys have a merry christmas and a happy new year