Links provided by Wahx:
Tools
http://www.teammarineusa.us/html/bassprofizz.html
http://www.bendsmender.com
Technique
http://web.singnet.com.sg/~rickh/c&r.htm
http://www.electricbluefishing.com/eb_sub_menu/new_2008_reef_fish_gear_rules.htm
Let's hear your views on using this technique/tool. How practical it is, and whether it can be used on smaller fish etc etc
if they work they are good things to do. but i dont think that they will work for small fish their body is not strong enough. i think in our case using large hooks to minimize chances of catching undersized fish is the best thing to do although there are some species that have big mouths for their size and will get caught also.
IMO, its worth a try, not expensive and pretty easy to do.
the method works only with large fish
hence, if you catch a 6-7kgs fish you can try it out it works. with 1kg fish it won't. it is also to note that depth is a problem too. use your common sense if you are using such equipment. always if the fisherman manages to haul the fish alive!
Like most things in fishing, this is either something you have to learn yourself or if you're lucky and someone knows they can show you. Getting the angle right and in exactly the right position seems to be crucial, but as fish-noob pointed out, the tool isn't expensive and if you're into bottom fishing sounds like a good thing to have in your tackle box.
Even if you try it on a smaller fish, perhaps nature will prevail and the fish will survive, though it does seem to be intended for larger fish. As busu pointed out with the hook size, this might try and put off the smaller fish but even those sometimes still go for a big hook.
Big hooks and large bait.
I agree with using larger hooks !!!!
I have seen this from longlines, Before i used to use size 12 hooks but now i moved down to size 9 ;)
having to say that I look for quality not quantity
Well the easiest sollution would be big hooks and large bait.
u still catch certain fish which are small even with a large hook. Mamma mia..... There are fish that will not bite if the hook is a size larger and others that not bite but swallow a hook 3 sizes larger. There are other fish that are big in size but have relative smaller mouths. Its a matter of what u are targeting but hooks dont have tags on them and no matter what u do small fish will always get caught. I agree u minimise which is good but u will never eliminate the problem completely.
with this being said we used to use tuna size hooks for swordfish and still small sized swordfish would be caught in the longlines.
The majority of the catches are because the swordfish gets entangled with the line and then the hook gets caught in his body (not mouth). As bait we used full size kavalli.
So what would you reccommend for this type of fishing?
I agree with what was said but their are some situations where their is no easy answer and not only depth is a problem but also the technique utilised. Also please not that swordfish tend to die quickly when in the longlines