Impacts of hook size on catch and bycatch in the eastern Gulf of Mexico reef fishery using electronic monitoring

This study evaluated the impacts of hook size on catch of discards of reef in the bottom longline fishery in the eastern Gulf of Mexico. Larger 15/0 hooks successfully reduced primary target species (red grouper, Epinephelus morio) discards by 38% in comparison to 13/0 hooks, but decreased catch of other important species, including red snapper (Lutjanus campechanus). 15/0 hooks also significantly reduced catch rates of Atlantic sharpnose shark (Rhizoprionodon terraenovae) and spiny dogfish (Squalus acanthias).