Hook Choice for Striped Bass: How to Lower Release Mortality and Protect the Fishery

Every year, thousands of striped bass die after being released due to stress and injury. Multiple studies have shown that excessive tissue damage and prolonged fight times are leading causes of post release mortality. Understanding the relationship between hook choice and release mortality is essential for us as recreational anglers to protect our fishery. Being mindful of your hook choice minimizes damage, reduces handling time, and increases the chances of a healthy release.

The health of the striped bass population is not just an ecological concern—it’s also essential for the economy surrounding our fishery. The custom plug building community, a core part of Angler’s Marketplace, relies on a thriving striped bass stock. If the population declines, the market for these specialized lures diminishes, threatening the livelihood of many independent builders across the Northeast. Supporting conservation efforts, including responsible hook choices, ensures that the striped bass fishery remains viable, benefiting both the anglers and the craftsmen who fuel the industry with high-quality, handcrafted lures.

Treble Hooks vs. Single Hooks on Artificial Lures

Artificial lures often come equipped with treble hooks, but these can cause significant damage to striped bass. Trebles increase the chances of multiple hook points embedding in the fish, leading to excessive tissue damage, eye injuries, and extended unhooking times. Reducing the number of total hook points is the largest factor in decreasing release mortality. Replacing treble hooks with inline single hooks or going to a single treble hook present the two major ways of achieving this reduction.

Advantages of reducing total hook points:

• Less damage to the fish: A single hook causes less trauma than multiple sharp points digging into the fish.
• Faster, safer releases: Removing a single hook takes less time, meaning less stress for the fish and less risk for the angler.

Unfortunately it is not as simple as just swapping out hooks for us anglers. Stock treble hooks are part of the balance and hydrodynamics of the lure. Simply removing a rear treble or swapping to inline singles often significantly affects the intended action of the lure. To maintain the desired action, we are presented with a few options.

The largest factor in maintaining the original action of the lure is weight. Most inline single hooks are now made with heavy gauge wire to more closely match the weight of a treble. Jerry Audet’s One Hook Solution uses through-wired worm weights to precisely match the weight of the missing treble hook. Many plugs are now being designed with a single treble hook from the maker. No matter how to rig your plug, be sure to swim test them during daylight to make sure it is swimming the way you want.

Inline Circle Hooks: The New Standard for Bait Fishing

In recent years, regulations in many striped bass fisheries have mandated the use of inline circle hooks when fishing with bait. Unlike J-hooks, which can easily be swallowed and lodge in the gut or gills, circle hooks are designed to hook fish in the corner of the mouth, making for an easier and safer release.

Benefits of inline circle hooks:

• Reduces gut-hooking: A properly used circle hook dramatically decreases the chances of deep-hooking, which is a leading cause of post-release mortality.
• Easier to remove: Mouth-hooked fish can be released more quickly, reducing stress and handling time.
• Legal compliance: Many striped bass fisheries require the use of circle hooks when bait fishing, so using them keeps you within regulations.

Hook Type and Mortality Rate - MA Division of Marine Fisheries

Barbless Hooks: An Extra Step for Conservation-Minded Anglers

While many anglers are unwilling to make the switch to barbless. It is a good idea to at least have a barbless hook option in your bag, especially when faced with a large group of schoolies. A small bucktail or soft plastic swimbait with the barb crimped is a great way to still connect with smaller fish while minimizing tissue damage.

Barbs make hook removal harder, often requiring pliers and causing additional tissue damage. Crushing barbs or using barbless hooks makes for an easier, lower-impact release without significantly affecting hook-up rates.

How to debarb your hooks:

• Use a pair of pliers to flatten the barb against the shank.
• Test by running your finger along the point—if it snags, flatten it more

Best Practices for Hooking and Handling Striped Bass

Minimizing the number of hook points is just one part of responsible catch and release. Here are a few additional tips to maximize survival rates:

• Fight fish efficiently: Avoid prolonged fights that can exhaust the fish.
• Keep fish in the water: Minimize air exposure and handle the fish gently with wet hands.
• Revive when necessary: If a fish appears lethargic, support it in the current until it swims off strongly.

Final Thoughts

As striped bass populations face increasing uncertainty, recreational anglers have a responsibility to fish smarter and minimize their impact. Using inline circle hooks for bait fishing, reducing hook points on lures, and having a barbless hook option in your bag are all essential practices. By making informed choices, we can ensure that striped bass continue to thrive for generations to come.