It should be...but the way I read it, made a post about it , and later worded from the FWC..:nonono:nonono...If you lay the hook on a flat surface, with the eye off that surface the hook should lay FLAT. Or if you cut the eye off the hook and lay it on a flat surface the hook should lay flat.

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%"><TBODY><TR><TD class=smalltxt vAlign=top><SPAN id=_ctl1_ctlTopic_ctlPanelBar_ctlTopicsRepeater__ctl8_lblFullMessage>Here is their new response to the Demon Circle Hooks.

Mr. Cook,

If the Mustad Ultrapoint Demon Circle Hook is non-stainless and the point is not offset, but is turned perpendicularly back to the shank to form a general circular or oval shape, then it is allowable gear. Non-offset hooks are in one plane; therefore if you were to cut off the eye of the hook and lay the hook on a flat surface, it would lay flat without any gap between the hook and surface. I highly recommend that you contact Mustad to verify that their Ultrapoint Demon circle hooks meet these specifications.

I hope this assists with your inquiry. Please contact us if you require additional information.

The hook you are showing is NOT one plane, and the point is NOT turned perpendicularly back to the shank.:banghead:banghead</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

 

Thats offset. So I think it's illegal to use in state waters, but not federal.....

 

First ....by the wording from FWC...that hook is offset...BUT as we all know, laws are made, not taking into consideration of something they haven't seen or heard of at the point of law making.

Second....I don't feel that the intent of the "Off-Set Hook" law would of included that hook. I feel the intent WAS to make hooks that the POINT of the hook was offset (in reference to the shank) and more then 1/64" illegal. And as the point on that hook points DIRECTLY back to the shank is why I feel that way....But that is my thinking.:banghead:banghead. I didn't have any input and I've never seen a hook as such (maybe they didn't either), not that I'm a hook expert, but far from one. Did you bend it?

EXAMPLE....DUI....When that law was made law, they didn't think about.....

 

why is the offset hook illegal? I thought circle hooks were a good thing.

PS

nice plants Ron.

 

Read Red Fly's post on Boating and Fishing Tricks and Tips . He explains the "offset" definition very well.

 

sniper (6/7/2008)why is the offset hook illegal? I thought circle hooks were a good thing.

PS

nice plants Ron.

Thanks...anology most everyone can understand..:doh

Off-Set circle hooks are LEGAL...its just that they are not legal in Florida, Gulf Of Mexico waters, while targeting reef fish while using natural live and or dead bait.:banghead:banghead:banghead

Coming soonto your home state of Alabama, Mississippi, Louisania, and Texas.....okeokeoke

http://www.fishthebridge.com/fishingforum/FindPost119102.aspx

 

If you are worried about it just bend the damn thing. Problem solved.:banghead

 

The wayI understood it is it can't be more than 1/64th offset. Someone sugesseted just bending it straight with pliers or needle nose. Makes sense to me

 

Bubba (6/7/2008)The wayI understood it is it can't be more than 1/64th offset. Someone sugesseted just bending it straight with pliers or needle nose. Makes sense to me

There really isn't a Off-Set to that hook (the point points to the shank) but it doesn't meet the (flat on) table condition that FWC might and can go by. Down the road, they just might allow that hook as legal...never know.:banghead Another thing.....be careful when using legal Circle hooks in the Gulf (Florida), and a fish doesn't bend the hook 1/64" I see it coming:banghead:banghead:banghead FWC beside your boat...Hook large fish....bring it up...bends a LEGAL Non Stainless hook to be off set by more then a 1/64":banghead :banghead :banghead

 

I think that hook would pass. The hook isn't off set but the shaft is bent.

I went through my tackle box today and I found a bunch of hooks that had a slight offset. It took about 30 minutes with a pair of pliers to get them up to spec. I had some big mustad circles that I couldn't fix so these will go in the offshore box for Rodeo fishing.

 

Thanks for all the replies. I have another question now. What if you go fishing in Federal water and catch reef fish with the illegal off-set circle hooks, never fish in FL state waters and still have the off-set hooks on the rods when you are checked by the FWC as you get around the pass going back in? I get stopped it seems like every time I come back in from offshore. Will there be any problems with the FWC, and how can you prove it that those fish were caught where you said they were?

 

At the risk of asking a dumb question, It keeps refering to Gulf of Mexico, State waters. Just how does this effect inshore fishing. Are circle hooks required or does this not effect inshore. Same with dehooking and venting tools. Any help here before I make a costly mistake.

 

m miles (6/7/2008)At the risk of asking a dumb question, It keeps refering to Gulf of Mexico, State waters. Just how does this effect inshore fishing. Are circle hooks required or does this not effect inshore. Same with dehooking and venting tools. Any help here before I make a costly mistake.

States Florida State waters in the GOM when targeting REEF fish and using natural and or live bait. I see dehooking tool but not the venting tool, but in a boat you better have one:banghead:banghead:banghead...So IF a Trout was a reef fish you would need a (legal) circle hook with shrimp, but not with DOA's

The only DUMB question is a question you don't know the answer toand don't either ask or look up. Now you have to wonder where the GOM starts and ends.:doh...Is the ICW considered part of the GOM or not..I'm not going there. For the water boundaries ..See#(5) in this text. https://www.flrules.org/gateway/readFile.asp?sid=0&tid=2607474&type=1&File=68B-14.002.doc<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; VERTICAL-ALIGN: baseline; TEXT-INDENT: 0.25in; LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .25in .25in .25in .25in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; punctuation-wrap: simple"><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-no-proof: yes">68B-14.002 Definitions.<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-comfficeffice" /><o></o>[/B]<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; VERTICAL-ALIGN: baseline; LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; punctuation-wrap: simple"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-no-proof: yes">For purposes of this chapter, except where the context clearly requires otherwise:<o></o><P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; VERTICAL-ALIGN: baseline; TEXT-INDENT: 0.25in; LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .25in .25in .25in .25in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; punctuation-wrap: simple"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-no-proof: yes">(1) ?Atlantic Ocean? means that body of water south and east of the line beginning at the point where the Natural Resources Boundary Line intersects 83 deg. W. longitude (24 deg. 29 min. N. latitude), thence north along 83 deg. W. longitude to where it intersects 24 deg. 35 min. N. latitude (near the Dry Tortugas), thence eastward along that parallel through Rebecca Shoal and the Quicksand Shoal to 82 deg. 13 min. W. longitude, then following the Territorial Sea Boundary south and east to the point it intersects 24 deg. 33 min. N. latitude, thence eastward along that parallel to the point where it intersects Key West, then continuing along a line eastward to the terminus of U.S. Highway 1 to the point where it intersects the mainland at the east end of Florida Bay.:banghead:banghead:banghead<o></o><P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; VERTICAL-ALIGN: baseline; TEXT-INDENT: 0.25in; LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .25in .25in .25in .25in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; punctuation-wrap: simple"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-no-proof: yes">(2) ?Charter vessel? means a vessel operated by a captain licensed by the United States Coast Guard to carry passengers for hire.<o></o><P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; VERTICAL-ALIGN: baseline; TEXT-INDENT: 0.25in; LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .25in .25in .25in .25in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; punctuation-wrap: simple"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-no-proof: yes">(3) ?Fork length? means the length of a fish as measured from the tip of the snout to the rear center edge of the tail.<o></o><P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; VERTICAL-ALIGN: baseline; TEXT-INDENT: 0.25in; LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .25in .25in .25in .25in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; punctuation-wrap: simple"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-no-proof: yes">(4) ?Goliath grouper? means any fish of the species <I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Epinephelus itajara[/I], or any part thereof.<o></o><P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; VERTICAL-ALIGN: baseline; TEXT-INDENT: 0.25in; LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .25in .25in .25in .25in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; punctuation-wrap: simple"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-no-proof: yes">(5) ?Gulf of Mexico? means that body of water north and west of the line described in the definition of ?Atlantic Ocean? contained in subsection (1) of this rule.<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; VERTICAL-ALIGN: baseline; TEXT-INDENT: 0.25in; LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .25in .25in .25in .25in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; punctuation-wrap: simple"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-no-proof: yes"><o>

</o>



http://sero.nmfs.noaa.gov/sf/pdfs/Discard%20Mortality%20FAQ.pdf

Florida's Reef fish.... https://www.flrules.org/gateway/RuleNo.asp?id=68B-14.0036