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Crushing Barbs

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beret

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I'm not a long time striper surf fisherman......maybe seriously for the past 5-6 years.....but I am concerned about releasing them as safely as possible. Yes, I do keep an occassional fish when possible, we love to eat striped bass......but when I release I want to give the fish the best chance possible. MY question is if you do crush all your barbs,what is the success ratio in landing fish vs. not crushing the barbs. I understand it has alot to do with the angler and keep the rod bent at all times with tension on the fish........but assuming a diligent angler.....is there a difference in the catch ratio?

 

Appreciate all comments.....thanks.

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I had a pretty bad "hook through hand" accident a number of years ago and that started me crushing down the barbs on everything I had. It definitely makes unhooking your fish much easier but, unfortunately, it makes it easier to lose more fish as well. I know a lot of guys say barbless doesn't lose fish if you keep the line tight, but in my experience it does. I'm back to fishing with barbs but now I carry cutting pliers that will go through every hook I own just in case I get stuck again. I also take extra care when unhooking a fish that will be released because a barbed hook will cause more injuries than a barbless one.

 

Valentine

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watch the video by John Skinner about rocky shore buck tailing on this board. He's killing them with a buck tail with a crushed barb, didn't drop one. And thats with a bucktail. taking trebles and bluefish into about crushing barbs = no brainer.

"It is an art performed on a four-count rhythm between ten and two o'clock"
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I'm not a long time striper surf fisherman......maybe seriously for the past 5-6 years.....but I am concerned about releasing them as safely as possible. Yes, I do keep an occassional fish when possible, we love to eat striped bass......but when I release I want to give the fish the best chance possible. MY question is if you do crush all your barbs,what is the success ratio in landing fish vs. not crushing the barbs. I understand it has alot to do with the angler and keep the rod bent at all times with tension on the fish........but assuming a diligent angler.....is there a difference in the catch ratio?

Appreciate all comments.....thanks.

 

I'm convinced you'll catch more fish with crushed barbs, especially on the larger fish, because the hookset is so much easier. The only place I don't crush is on inlet jetties because the fish might get slack as I'm climbing down the rocks with waves coming in.

 

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Quote:

Originally Posted by flytyingguy1 View Post


Quote:

Originally Posted by Nick Bot56 View Post

The first time I tried it two Sundays ago, I kept losing my bait on the cast.  I was fishing clams with a circle hook.  Does it just not work with clams or with bait in general?


Try tying your bait on the hook. Some people use rubber bands & some use dental Floss.



 



Good tip. Thanks.  Floss sounds easy enough.  I used to crush the barbs on my flys for better hook set.


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No difference once you learn to keep the line tight/rod bent. And much easier and quicker release. And if you ever hook yourself or someone else you'll be really happy you crushed the barbs.

RH

 

^^^^There you go. Just keep tension on the line, haven't lost a fish yet and I crush all my barbs. Sometimes when I land the fish on the beach it will give a headshake and unhook itself...couldn't be easier.

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When crushing your barbs remember you want to crush them from the front of the hook.

Meaning place the pliers over the front of the hook where the point is not from the side.

Squeezing the barb from the side can weaken the hook & makes the hook easier to brake.

 

Why exactly? Never heard this before.

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When crushing your barbs remember you want to crush them from the front of the hook.

Meaning place the pliers over the front of the hook where the point is not from the side.

Squeezing the barb from the side can weaken the hook & makes the hook easier to brake.

 

Hard to do with inline circle, don't think I lose anymore fish with a crushed barb then usual and if I do it's no big deal.

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