Influence of Hook Size in the Hawaiian Deep-sea Handline Fishery

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Abstract
Experimental bottom fishing trials were conducted in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands where four different hook sizes (Nos. 28, 30, 34, and 38) were fished simultaneously. Within this series the biggest hook is about 71% larger than the smallest hook. Alterations in gear within this range have no substantive effect on the catch of bottom fish. In all cases examined, variation in catch statistics associated with differing replications (days and sites) greatly exceeded any effect attributable to different hook sizes. It is concluded that for medium- and large-sized fish, the catch is reasonably representative of those fish which strike the hooks and that a sigmoid selection curve most accurately describes the selective properties of the gear in this fishery.Key words: gear selection, hook size, bottom fish, replications

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