RED SNAPPER CIRCLE HOOK RATIONAL
Earlier we provided some information and an update regarding the research we are conducting using fish hyperbaric chambers to simulate rapid decompression from depths of 140 and 200 ft. on red snapper.
The other portion of this grant deals with testing circle hooks as an alternative gear when targeting red snapper.
This interest in circle hooks came from shipboard observations of undersized red group
and red snapper caught using J hooks. MML personnel noted that no red grou0per, but sometimes as many as half of the red snapper caught at 75 ft. died shortly after they were landed. MML personnel began bringing these fish back to
the lab for necropsy. The necropsies revealed that all of the red snapper had succumbed to hook mortality. Most often, the J hook was in the esophagus when the hook was set. Setting the kook causes it to perforate or
slit the esophagus and depending on the angel, either puncture or macerate the liver.
The question was then, if red grouper, gag and red snapper are all such aggressive feeder, why do red snapper suffer such
high hook mortality but red grouper and gag do not? Live red grouper, gag and red snapper were collected and kept in 1,000 gallon research tanks. Their feeding behavior was observed and an important difference was noted. Although
all three (3) species were aggressive feeders, both the red grouper and gag mouthed their food for a while before swallowing it. This would give the fishers time to set the hook while it was still in the fish's mouth. Red snapper
immediately swallowed the food. Any lag time in setting the hook after the fish takes the bait will often result in organ puncture and death.
While fishing with circle hooks, the fish, not the angler, sets the hook when it takes the bait. If a red snapper is hooked in then mouth or jaw, then the greatest source of mortality would be
prevented. Comments from those of you participating in the study are encouraging, however we need to tag many more circle hook captured red snapper over various depths in order for the date to be comparable with our red snapper J
hook database. Unfortunately, the start of our grant coincided with the start of the red snapper closed season, so we have to make up for all the months we lost. Please contact us if you need more circle hooks or tags. An
update will be provided in our next newsletter and on this web site.
Last update: March 10, 2003
MOTE MARINE LABORATORY