The issue of hook retention now been the subject of a detailed scientific report from ELSEVIER highlighted in the THE ABACO SCIENTIST. The report’s main conclusions can be summarised as follows:
-Hooks, especially shallow ones, are expelled fairly quickly.
-For deep-hooked fish, barbless hooks are significantly easier for the fish to deal with.
-The presence of a hook does not appear to interfere with feeding.
-Hook size is not a material factor.
-All the test sample fish survived.
LINK (via: Rolling Harbor Abaco)