Fishing Gear Types 101: Longlines & Hook and Line
Photo by David Hills of @FishyPictures.
Longlines
Groundfish (sablefish, rockfish, lingcod, flounders, and soles)
Longlines in the Monterey Bay are used to catch fish that live near the ocean floor with hundreds of baited hooks set and left to soak from just a few hours to a whole day. Each end of the longline has buoy and/or flag poles to help fishermen spot their gear and retrieve their catch.
A line runs from the buoy to the ocean floor — up to a mile deep — where the mainline is anchored. The mainline has smaller lines, up to 2 feet long and known as gagnions, with baited hooks attached every yard or so. Species targeted include sablefish (aka blackcod), California halibut, and a variety of rockfish.
Fishermen who use longlines know the seafloor well and know which habitats specific groundfish live in. They are able to target particular species by knowing whether they are found on the continental shelf or the continental slope, rocky bottoms or soft bottoms, around seamounts or other geological features, and at specific depths.
Illustration courtesy of NOAA Fisheries.
Hook and Line
Rockfish, California halibut, white seabass, and lingcod
Hans Haveman of H&H Fresh Fish Co. commercial fishing with a rod and reel. Photo courtesy of H&H Fresh Fish Co.
Most commercial boats that fish by hook and line are smaller vessels fishing in nearshore waters. Some fishermen use rods and reels similar to what sport fishermen use. Others use electric reels, and still others keep it old school with handlines.
Another hook and line fishing method is with “stick” gear, where the fisherman attaches five to 15 leaders with baited hooks to a 5-foot length of PVC pipe weighted by rebar. Stick gear is often set to specific depths around seamounts and underwater rock outcroppings to target rockfish and lingcod.
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife manages Nearshore hook and line fishing, which is open year-round.