TIPS FOR CATCHING MORE MARLIN AND OTHER BILLFISH

CIRCLE HOOKS VS. J HOOKS

Bring up the subject of circle hooks and the average angler will roll his eyes back and make some type of groaning noise sounding his disproval. “Can’t trust ‘em”, “I’ve tried but can’t hook the fish”, “I keep losing fish, it’s just to hard to get a good hook set”. Talk to a pro and you’ll get a completely different story.

Accomplished anglers around the world including Ron Hamlin, who recently released his 20,000th billfish, will tell you that hook-up ratios are higher and lost fish are very, very uncommon. In fact, the pros like Ron will tell you that the old-fashioned J-hooks lose more marlin and sailfish than circle hooks… unless you have no clue on how to effectively fish them. Just like always, people hate change and these “new” hooks require a big change in technique.

First off, circle hooks are anything but new. It’s hard to know when they first came about but early versions of the concept where used by Pacific Islanders fishing snag prone reefs. Tired of constantly busting off leaders, these fishermen modified their J-hooks bending them into a rounder, wider arc and twisting the hook point inward just ahead of the barb. The result – less snags, more fish. Since then, circle hooks have evolved into the ultimate conservation tool for responsible anglers – non-offset, thin wire carbon steel circle hooks.

Further proof that circle hooks dramatically reduce trauma, a recent comparison study was conducted in Iztapa, Guatemala in order to assess the impact of circle vs. J-hooks with both live and dead bait on sailfish. The results were dramatic revealing the benefits or circle hooks in billfish conservation. A total of 360 Pacific sailfish were caught with 235 on circle hooks and 125 on J-hooks.

Here’s a breakdown of the results:Significantly more sailfish were deep hooked in the throat and stomach with "J" hooks (46%), as compared with circle hooks (2%). Only one sailfish (1%) was foul hooked using circle hooks, while 11 (9%) sailfish caught on "J" hooks were foul hooked. Sailfish caught on "J" hooks are 21 times more likely to suffer hook-related bleeding than those caught on circle hooks.

The numbers prove it. We know the why of circle hooks, now here are some tips for how:•

Standard hook sets are your enemy. Instead, allow the fish to take the bait and swim away. Slowly increase drag pressure until the line comes tight, then lift the rod tip slowly, at this point a short jerk can be used to pull the hook through the jaw, but most times it’s really not necessary.•

Learn different methods of rigging baits – try rigging dead baits by wiring them to the circle hook. This method is the circle hook rigging allowed for the World Championship Billfish Release Tournament and allows for a more lifelike presentation. For in-depth instructions on how to set up this type of circle hook rig, click here. •

Circle hooked live baits are a proven method. Run the circle hook through the baits back just behind the eyes or through the nostrils. Experiment with hook placement on various live bait to find the spot that allows for the most natural swim.•

Circle hooks are not just for baits! Many tackle manufacturers offer pre-rigged artificial baits such as Williamson Lures or you can rig your own artificials quickly and easily.So there you have it. Circle hooks work for the angler and the fish. The results are stronger healthier fish for better fights and healthier releases with the added bonus of hooking and landing more billfish than ever before!

New Snook Regs Looming

Tighter Bag limits, narrower slot limits are proposed

Anglers may see new snook regulations soon. Changes to snook bag and size limits and harvest seasons were proposed by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) on Thursday.
This action is intended to provide additional protection for Florida’s valuable snook populations, which are considered to be fairly healthy on the state’s Atlantic and Gulf coasts. However, the FWC believes a reduction in harvest is necessary to help achieve the Commission’s management goal for snook and sustain and improve the fishery.
The latest FWC stock assessment for snook concluded the management goal of a 40-percent spawning potential ratio established for this fishery is not being met, and increasing fishing effort and habitat loss are contributing to the declining rate.
The FWC has proposed rule amendments to reduce the snook daily recreational bag limit from two fish to one on the Atlantic Coast, which would coincide with the one-fish limit now in place on the Gulf Coast and in waters of Everglades National Park and Monroe County. The rules also would change the current 27-34 inches total length snook slot limit to 28-32 inches in the Atlantic and 28-33 inches in Gulf, Everglades and Monroe County waters.
No changes are proposed for the Dec. 15 – Jan. 31 and June-August snook closed harvest seasons in the Atlantic, however the rules would add the first half of December and the month of February to the Dec. 15 – Jan. 31 and May-August snook closed harvest seasons in the Gulf, Everglades and Monroe County.
Another rule proposal would allow snook anglers to carry more than one cast net aboard a vessel. Right now, anglers who possess a snook on a vessel are allowed to have only one secured and stored cast net aboard the vessel.
The proposed snook rule changes were initiated by a workgroup formed by the FWC to help evaluate management of the snook fishery. A series of public workshops was recently held in Central and South Florida to allow comment and input regarding the proposals. Final public hearing on the proposed snook rules will take place during the FWC’s June 13-14 meeting in Melbourne.
Press Release Courtesy of FWCC

When is the Best Time Of Day For Fishing

Since the dawn of time it seems like the answer to the question posed in this article is the morning or evening, right? It's widely known that early in the morning is good for fishing, but is this the answer to the question; what's the best time of day for fishing? Or is evening better? The point is that both morning and evening are good for fishing, this is true, but there are ways to narrow it down even more.
In this article, we're going to discuss some of the most important ways to determine when the best time to fish is. We as anglers, get a finite amount of time to spend fishing, so in my estimation we want to maximize the time we get to spend on the water as much as we can. This means fishing when the fish are the most active.
So, how do we figure out when the fish are the most active, other than just fishing in the morning and evening? It much easier than you might think, and it has to do with two specific forces of Mother Nature. The weather and the moon have as much to do with fishing as any two factors, and understanding how is the key to knowing when the best time of day is for fishing.
You can go onto the internet and do a search or two on these two subjects, and if you do that you'll end up with enough information to choke a horse. The bottom line is that you need to know about moon phases and frontal systems. These two factors are the main determinates of how fishing is affected, and knowing exactly how is the key to unlocking the mystery. Don't worry, becoming a scholar or spending a bunch of money isn't necessary.
As a matter of fact, the information that you need can be learned quite quickly, and then implemented just as quickly. For example, if the moon is in the waxing or waning crescent phase, I know fishing will be "average" at best, so I don't usually go fishing during these times. Don't worry the words shouldn't scare you. Learning the information you need about the weather and moon is simple.
My point is that determining the best time of day for fishing has to do with these two factors, and can be learned by anyone. Anyone who wants to be a more successful angler that is. If you've ever had one of those days fishing when you caught a ton of fish, and it seemed like no matter what you threw in the water resulted in a bite, you were probably fishing when the weather and moon were both in your favor, and you didn't know it. Learn this information and you can recreate these scenarios.

Congressmen Alerted on Clean Boating Act of 2008

Senate Environment and Public Works Committee Chair, Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and Senator Bill Nelson (D-FL) introduced a bill, S. 2766, The Clean Boating Act of 2008, in March of this year. The legislation would restore the EPA exemption for recreational boats. Last May, Boating Caucus Co-Chairmen Representative Candice Miller (R-MI) and Representative Gene Taylor (D-MS) introduced H. R. 2550, The Recreational Boating Act of 2007 in the House of Representatives. The language of H.R. 2550 and the language of S.2667 will be the same in the final version.
Passage of the Clean Boating Act of 2008 by Congress would re establish the exemption for America’s recreational boaters. Congressional action is needed prior to a looming deadline for permit applications that would apply to all recreational and fishing boats, including charter boats.
For thirty-five years, the Environmental Protection Agency has exempted recreational boaters from the regulations that protected aquatic resources from pollutants and invasive species transported in the ballast water of commercial vessels. In 2006, a federal judge overturned the exemption. If not corrected by legislation, boaters would be required to obtain onerous Federal or State permits for normal incidental discharges such as bilge water, deck runoff and engine cooling water. Boaters could also face oppressive fines for non-compliance. The ruling goes into effect on September 30 of this year, unleashing not only a layer of new regulations from the EPA, but creating a new bureaucracy to deal with 18-million boaters applying for the permits.
If you own a boat - whether you fish or not - the time to contract your congressmen is NOW!