How we handle our fish is very important.
More people are realising that it is no longer a case of ‘plenty more fish in the sea’ but rather a case of ‘every fish counts’.
Before you start fishing, file or flatten down the barbs on your hook.
Barbs are designed to stop fish getting off the hook during the fight.
The disadvantage of barbs on both J hooks and circle hooks is that fish frequently require a firm grip to remove the hook.
This handling can result in scale loss, the protective mucus being removed, and damage to the fish externally and internally as they thrash around while being unhooked.
Removing the barbs on your hooks seldom results in fish being lost while being brought on-board, especially when the fisher applies constant pressure during the fight.
The advantages are significant as a fish can be left in the water for release and not be handled at all.
Barbless hooks not only afford more safety for the fish but also the fisher.
If a hook happens to get deeply lodged in some body part, the most painful part of removal is trying to remove the part of the hook where the barb is attached.
This is the part that causes the most damage to skin and tendons and other soft tissue.
If the barb has been removed, it is a much easier process of removal with less discomfort, for which the fisher will be very grateful.
