Large circle hooks and short leaders with fixed weights reduce incidence of deep hooking in angled adult red drum

We report on results of a multi-year study involving test fishing for large adult red drum Sciaenops ocellatus to determine the influence of hook style, circle hook size and leader-weight configurations on the incidence of deep hooking. We found a lower probability of deep hooking with circle hooks compared to similar terminal tackle fitted with J-style hooks. This result reinforces the notion that circle hooks, by virtue of the shape of the shank and the orientation of the hook point, are less likely to lodge in soft tissue deep in the throat. The lowest incidence of deep hooking (4%) was achieved using large or intermediate size circle hooks on short leaders with fixed weights. In addition, we found deep hooking probability to be reduced with a shortened length of leader with a fixed weight, regardless of the style of the hook. We infer from these latter results that large circle hooks are less likely to pass beyond the pharyngeal teeth into the throat after ingestion of bait. We also infer that a short length of leader with a fixed weight results in more immediate opposing pressure following ingestion, effectively dragging the hook into the corner of the mouth at the time the hook is set. These factors appear to work together to reduce overall likelihood of deep hooking. We encourage managers to promote the use of large circle hooks configured with short leaders and fixed weights to reduce deep hooking to achieve conservation goals established for the red drum catch-and-release fishery.