A comparison of catch rates of artificial lures from an automated handline fishery at Shetland, UK

Paul Macdonald, Chevonne H. Laurenson, Arthur Johnson, Leslie Tait

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    2 Citations (Scopus)
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    Abstract

    Automated handlining (jig fishing) has recently been trialled in waters around Shetland, UK. Although different types and colours of artificial lures are commercially available there is a paucity of information available on the effects of either lure design or lure colour on resulting catches. We compared the catch rates of (1) five colours of rubber eel tube lures; and (2) five different designs of artificial lure commonly used in handline fisheries. Lure colour did not significantly affect catches of pollack (Pollachius pollachius), saithe (Pollachius virens), cod (Gadus morhua), ling (Molva molva) or tusk (Brosme brosme). Cod showed a preference for lower hooks on the six hooks per reel set-up when lures were black and pollack showed a preference for lower hooks when the lures were blue. There were no significant differences in catches of saithe, cod, ling or tusk between the five lure types. However, catches of pollack on a novel ‘sonar’ lure were lower than on other lures. No evidence of a preference for any hook position on the reels was found with any of the lure types.
    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)379-385
    Number of pages6
    JournalFisheries Research
    Volume95
    Issue number2-3
    Early online date31 Oct 2008
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 14 Jan 2009

    Keywords

    • Jig fishing
    • Artificial lure
    • Handline
    • Pollack
    • Saithe
    • Shetland
    • Colour effect

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