Fishing and Gear Technology

Unit-9 Fishing hooks

9.1 Hooks

Line fishing consists of a line and a hook. Hooks are made of galvanized or aluminium coated iron, brass and stainless steel. They are manufactured in different shapes and sizes. In addition to simple hooks, hooks of more complicated designs such as double hooks, triple hooks and jigs are also in use. A simple hook generally consists of a head or eye, by which it is connected to the line, shank, bend, point and barb. Barbless hooks are used in pole and line to facilitate easy removal of fish. Kerbed hooks which are twisted in the bend part make the baiting easier and increase efficiency. Double hooks or triple hooks are used in troll line with artificial baits. These hooks hold in fish more securely than the single hook. Jig hooks have a single or double whorl of barbless hooks around spindle shaped coloured /metallic/plastic body. Size of the hook is denoted according to numbering system followed by different manufacturer. Generally size of the hook varies inversely with the number of hook. Mean selection length of the fish caught is proportional to the size of the hook represented by its breadth. Smaller hooks are reported to have higher catching efficiency.