ABSTRACT
A previous study found that use of the traditional halibut hook (cibu.d) of the Makah Tribe in present day recreational Pacific halibut (Hippoglossus stenolepis) fisheries significantly reduced bycatch compared to paired 8/0 circle hooks. The study also found that the cibu.d had a significantly reduced catch of halibut, but that the reduction may have been due to manufacturing flaws in the cibu.d used in the study. In this two-phased study, we first compared the fishing performance of redesigned cibu.d made from four different materials: brass, stainless steel, plastic, and wood. In the second phase, we compared the fishing performance of the brass cibu.d with two common recreational fishing set-ups: a single large 16/0 circle hook and paired 8/0 circle hooks. The fishing performance of the redesigned cibu.d was not statistically different for cibu.d made of brass, stainless steel, or plastic. However, the cibu.d made from wood had significantly lower catch of halibut than the other cibu.d. We selected the brass cibu.d for the second phase of the study for continuity with the previous study of cibu.d and found that it had significantly less bycatch and a lower bycatch ratio than both the paired 8/0 and single 16/0 circle hooks. No significant differences were found in catch rates of halibut for paired 8/0 circle hooks, 16/0 circle hook, and the brass cibu.d. This study demonstrates that the improved catching performance of cibu.d on halibut and reduced bycatch compared to other popular approaches can be achieved by using brass cibu.d. Managers of recreational halibut fisheries should consider the use of cibu.d in areas where bycatch is a concern.
