Fishing Hooks

Question
Hey, I am in the PLTW Engineering Program at the Career and Technology Center in Williamston SC. We are doing a senior project on a subject of our choice. My partner and I choice to do our project on fishing hooks. We are trying to come up with a design that will make the removal of a hook from a fishs mouth more convient and to not harm the fish as much. I was wondering if you had any suggetions and if you consider this to be a problem. If you can send me contact information because we have to have feferance for our searches. Thanks alot and hope to hear from you soon.
                                                          Thanks,
                                                    Nathan Norris
           Anderson Districts I & II Career and Technology Center
                                               702 Belton Highway
                                            Williamston, SC 29697
                                p.    f.  

Answer

Hook Disgorger Hi Nathan,

I have three small kids so yes, deep hooking fish is a problem.  Circle hooks have solved some of the problems over the years but not all.  The device you are looking to design will have to:

1. Quickly attach to the line and follow the line into the fishes mouth/throat to the hook.
2. Pop the hook out of whatever tissue it is caught in without damaging the surrounding area.
3. Envelope the hook so that it doesn't catch anything on the way out.

Now, I don't want to burst your bubble, but this item, called a hook disgorger, has been available for as long as I have been fishing (35 years) and costs about $.99 at any tackle shop.
You may be trying to re-invent the mouse trap.  But then, maybe you can come up with a better mouse trap!

Good luck,

Marc