Not sure I know what hook you mean with the diff barb. Only thing I can think of is that mean a circle hook? Circle hooks were made mandatory for all reef fish when using any type of bait years ago by the Feds and states followed suit. If using artificial lures like jigs or whatever any hook can still be used. Not bc the barb on the circle hook does less damage but bc with the circle hook the fish rarely swallows the hook so is almost always hooked in the mouth rather than in the throat, gills, or stomach. I didn't like them at first but once you learn to use them circle hooks IMO outperform J or kahl style hooks in many situations mainly with live or natural dead baits.
That's them, pretty sure the barb was a little different but I guess that could be a manufacturer choice
I've used the circle hooks for flounder. Seems like fewer of them are able to spit the hook than with regular hooks.
I've seen circle hooks with the barb on the outside of the bend rather than inside but it's the circle hook that's the law not the position of the barb at least the by the feds and MS anyways. Florida does have some screwy laws though and I don't keep up with what they do over there at all.
Florida is not going to pass any laws at the behest of PETA. They have a huge commercial and recreational fishing industry.
But they did, I just remember the guy telling us about it and what @jvalhenson said is right, it wasn't about hurting the fish or whatever it was about them not swallowing it but I just remember that hook being really goofy looking. Didn't matter, we still caught a nice bunch of fish, even got a king. I was after a lemon/cobia/Ling depending on where you are from but they weren't in season.
I know this is way off topic but on the circle hooks just to get a visual on if we are talking bout the same thing this would be what id call a regular circle hook..... Then you have an offset circle hook. Can see a side by side of reg vs offset here.... Then the barb on the outside would be like these but on a circle hook which obviously these aren't but didn't easily/quickly find a pick of a circle hook with outside barb
Wasn't referring to any peta tree hugging nonsense they just have a ton of odd rules. Various zones throughout the state with seasons and limits on fish being very different from zone to zone based on the changing habitats and species. Big difference in the pan handle and keys obviously. Huge no fishing areas in south Florida into the keys and other things of that nature. Used to fish in the keys pretty regular being my dad was born in homestead when my grandpa was stationed there with the Air Force and still had a house down there but haven't been back since 2006 and quick keeping up all their ever changing regs since then. But I can tell you it's a hell of a lot of fun down there as long as you stay away from key west and Miami. Best stuff on the smaller upper and middle keys IMO.
@jvalhenson I think that offset circle looks like it, then the barb was bent in towards the shafts or spine. Like I said, we still caught and it wasn't that tough just had to make sure they had it before you set the hook.
