courtesy Hook
Hider

As we mentioned in our article on Safety, one of the perils that await skiff fishermen is bumping into a hook hung off a rod guide. Enter Hook Hider. Hook Hider has developed a clever way to hide the points of even treble-hooked plugs inside the grip. The Hookhider grip section can be retrofitted to existing cork handles, and they also sell a complete line of freshwater bass casting and spinning rods. The heavier models would make good light-tackle salt water rods.

HX500S picture
courtesy Standard
Horizon

Standard Horizons has updated their VHF handheld radio lines. The HX500S and HX600S are submersible units with emergency strobes, 700 mW speakers, NiMh batteries, and a host of other features, including DSC support, AM/FM and Airband radio on the HX600S. NiMh batteries can be recharged at any discharge level without the battery retaining a memory.

Since a replacement battery pack for our venerable Apelco handheld is now $80, we've decided to replace it with a newer technology HX500S. More to come on this one.

If you don't need or want the latest technology, Standard Horizon's older  HX370S and HX270S are available at some smokin' prices. We've seen the HX370S advertised for $149.00, including the NiMh battery, a AA battery pack carrier, and a rapid charger!

courtesy IGFA

Releasing fish caught from deep water can be a problem. Fish with swim bladders often suffer from barotrauma, in which their swim bladders pop out, and they can not swim to a depth required to collapse the bladder.

An Australian fisherman, Garry Lilley, has come up with a interesting way to release fish under these conditions. He has developed a "release weight", which is basically a large sinker with a barbless hook molded into one end. A snap swivel is attached to the bend of the hook.

The idea is that after the fish is landed, the release weight is hooked into the fish's mouth, the snap is attached to the fishing line, and the fish and weight are sent over the side. The weight pulls the fish to the bottom, where a tug on the line allows the fish to come off the barbless hook, and swim off.

We've been looking around for a source in the US, but have been unable to find one...

The October 2005 issue of Sport Fishing magazine featured an article titled "Mexico's Incredible Cow Town" by Doug Olander, which covered the yellowfin tuna fishing off Puerto Vallarta. In the article they described a method used by Captain Josh Temple for rigging large live baits.

The usual process is to use a bait needle to make a floss loop through the bait's eye socketes, then attach the floss loop to the main hook. Called "bridling", this is a tried-and-true process, but it does keep the bait out of the water for a while, affecting it's liveliness. Also, circle hooks can get blocked by the bait's body, as they need more room to turn in order to catch in the corner of the fish's mouth.

Capt. Temple has come up with an alternative method. He takes a small (2/0 - 3/0) hook, and uses floss to tie the hook to the bend of the larger (12/0 - 18/0) primary hook. To rig the bait, he hooks it through the upper lip using the small hook. This is quick, and keeps the primary hook clear of the bait.

When a large fish hits, the floss breaks. If the small hook were attached permanently through the eye, this would not be IGFA - legal. However, the fact that the second hook can break free makes it a legitimate rig, at least according to the most recent IGFA newsletter.