Something i found earlier about stainless hooks..... have a read!
A FEDERAL Government conservation organisation is asking fishermen to stop using stainless steel fishhooks, saying they are cruel.
They also say the hooks cause unnecessary loss of marine life.
Stainless steel hooks become a problem when fish break away from the line, leaving the hook stuck in their mouth. The hooks do not rust and often cause the fish to starve to death.
Coastcare, a National Heritage Trust-funded group, wants corrodible hooks to be the ones always used by anglers.
Such hooks would rust, hopefully quickly enough for the animal to survive.
Spokesman Brian Scarsbrick said yesterday that snagged animals such as sharks, dolphins and turtles often could not eat because of old hooks and many eventually starved or, in weakened condition, fell victim to predators.
Many commercial and recreational fishermen were embracing marine conservation and this was another logical step, he said.
Sunfish North Moreton branch secretary Bill Turner said stainless steel had been introduced about 30 years ago in an effort to stop hooks rusting in the tackle box.
"Stainless steel hooks hold their point better, but I gave up using them years ago," Mr Turner said.
"I personally don't see any advantage in them."
He called on all members to abandon stainless steel.
"Our annual general meeting is coming up this month, and I'm willing to make a recommendation for Sunfish to adopt this as policy," he said.
Mr Turner said stainless steel lasted for an indefinite period and anglers should do anything that would help species survive better.
Ron Hunter, owner of Dive Forster in northern NSW, said stainless steel was a major problem, especially in sharks.
"Up to 50 per cent of all sharks observed have some form of attachments in their mouths," Mr Hunter said.
"An ordinary steel hook will rust away and cause less problems than a stainless steel hook, which can stay in place for up to two years, in which time the shark will often die."
It was unclear how long different types of hooks took to rust, but it was thought smaller steel hooks took about six months.
http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,21413038-421,00.html