Why do circle hooks have less impact than j hooks on the mortality rate of marlin?

Question

Why do circle hooks have less impact than j hooks on the mortality rate of marlin?

Answer 1

To be honest I don't know how "J" hooks work but from the experience I've had using circle hooks,you don't get any gut hooking  so far less damage.

Answer 2

Because of the shape of circle hooks it means that fish get hooked in the jaw and don't take the bait down, its not just sharks but other fish too.

Answer 3

Airflow got it. In the gulf, we now HAVE to use circles when fishing for reef fish with live or cut bait. They are designed not to gut hook.

Answer 4

Ah, well, they only have less impact when you are fishing live bait, dead bait or a strip, in other words only with methods that require a "drop back" when marlin fishing.   J hooks are perfectly fine when fishing a trolling lure such as a wide range, or any style of "kona head" lure that does not require a drop back, as a matter of fact, I have never seen a circle hook used successfully in a lure only application.  I fish for marlin a good bit and use all methods and will only use a circle hook and not a J hook when fishing live bait (the stripey in my atavar pic was caught on a live mackerel and circle hook) or dead baits.   I have never had a gut hooked marlin on a non offset circle hook (you will get gut hooks on offset circle hooks) when I have used them.  Like wise, I have never had a gut hooked marlin with a J hook used in a lure only application.  The reason being is that when using live bait, dead bait or strip baits, the fish must swallow the bait, and a properly briddled bait will allow the circle hook to move up the throat without getting caught and will then work its way into the corner of the mouth.  When using those types of bait, you are trolling slower, and you typically have a 5 count or more drop back before you engage the drag....the marlin has swallowed the bait.  With lures and J hooks you are trolling faster, with your reel's drag already engaged and there is no drop back, the forward motion of the boat sets the hook, and the marlin never swallows the lure, if in the rare instance where a marlin was able to swallow the lure, I imagine the lure head and skirt would prevent a stomach hookup.

Answer 5

Circle hooks hook the fish in the corner of the mouth causing less damage to the fishes bill, and even if your drifting a live bait and you let the fish swallow the bait, when you reel up the hook will 99% of the time come out and hook the fish in the corner of the mouth.