Hooked up: A Review of Marine Recreational Hook Regulations in the United States: Accessibility, Science and Recommendations

The effects of fish hook type on hooking location and post release mortality of recreational and commercial fish have been well studied. We examined how fisheries management agencies along the coastal United States have incorporated fish hook science into fisheries regulations. We reviewed marine recreational hook regulations of 23 states on natural resource agency websites and conducted a survey to assess the accessibility of hook regulations and bag limits to anglers. Of the states examined, 30% have no hook regulations, 30% have just recommendations (suggestions but not requirements) while the remaining states have specific regulations (requirements) regarding the use of circle, multiple, and treble hooks. Greater than 50% of the survey participants found hook regulations easy to locate on Georgia and Louisiana websites, whereas greater than 80% found them difficult to locate on New Jersey, Alaska, and Delaware websites. The bag limits for Texas and Mississippi were easiest to locate while Alaska’s and Delaware’s bag limits were the most difficult to locate on websites. We suggest that state agencies make hook regulations more visible and readily available to anglers. Increased visibility may help mitigate the harmful effects of certain hook types on fish mortality.