Catch-and-release fishing of tucunaré (cichla kelberi) and pirapitinga (piaractus brachypomus): hook type vs post-catch fish health

The growing popularity of catch-and-release fishing and consequent injuries to fish need to be studied to develop species-specific techniques that limit damage. Therefore, we tested the hypothesis that the hook type used in catch-and-release fishing affects fish health. Specifically, we evaluated the catch-and-release of Cichla kelberi (tucunaré) and Piaractus brachypomus (pirapitinga) with different types of hooks (barbed J-hook, barbed circle hook, barbed wide gap hook and barbless J-hook) and their influence on several parameters: fight time, perforation and bleeding type (location), hook removal time and healing (post release). After catching and releasing 284 fish (n = 107 C. kelberi and n = 177 P. brachypomus), we found that the barbed circle hook for C. kelberi and the barbless J hook for P. brachypomus reduced the damage caused by catch-and-release fishing. Removal of these hooks from the animals took less time (i.e. was easier), caused less perforation damage and bleeding and resulted in faster healing. Thus, we confirmed our hypothesis that hook type plays a significant role in fish health and survival in catch-and-release tanks and may contribute to the conservation and sustainable use of this resource.