On Thu, 5 Jan 2006 08:20:26 -0500, "Reggie Smithers"
wrote:

Using Circular Hooks is becoming popular as a way to improve the odds of
fish surviving when released.

With the spread of Shark Fishing Tournaments (as seen on a new reality TV
show) how do people improve the odds of a Shark surviving a catch and
release. I know some people just cut the leader, but that seems like it
impacts on the fish's ability to hunt and opens the fish to infection by
having a wound that will not heal.

Does the hook and leader rust or is the fish destined to carry around a hook
and leader for ever? Is it just me or do some aspects of fishing seem
pretty brutal and barbaric?

I would say that circle hooks would work as well with sharks as any other species.
Yes, they would be rough to remove, so cutting the leader and leaving the hook in the
lip is probably the only alternative.

I see humans all the time with metal things in their lips, and it doesn't seem to
shorten their life much.

A hook in the corner of the mouth would still leave the shark in much better shape
than a gut hook would, especially after some fighting which would rip up more of the
shark's insides.

--
John H.

"Divide each difficulty into as many parts as is feasible and necessary to resolve it."
Rene Descartes