fishhook

A fishhook is a device used for catching fish by impaling the mouth. It typically consists of a curved metal shank ending in a sharp point and usually a barb, with an eye at the end for attaching line or a lure.

A hook has four basic parts: the eye, the shank, the bend, and the point (with the barb). The eye is the attachment point for the fishing line; the barb helps prevent the fish from escaping once hooked. The bend is the curved portion, and the point is the sharpened tip.

Common shapes include the J-hook, which has a simple curved bend; circle hooks, whose rounded angle tends to hook the corner of the mouth; and treble hooks, with three points on one body. Other designs are offset hooks and worm hooks. Hook types vary to suit different baits, lures, and fishing techniques.

Materials vary: high-carbon steel, stainless steel, and bronze are common. Modern hooks may be coated with nickel, tin, or other finishes to improve corrosion resistance. Many hooks can be barbed or barbless; barbless variants are often preferred or required by regulations to reduce harm to fish.

For use, hooks are tied to line via the eye and baited with live bait or tied to artificial lures. Circle hooks are often favored for catch-and-release because they tend to minimize gut hooking, while J-hooks remain widely used in many traditional setups and for various species.

History and development: fishing hooks have been used for thousands of years, with bone, shell, and stone hooks found in ancient cultures. Metal hooks appeared in the Bronze Age and became widespread as metallurgy advanced, evolving into the diverse designs common today.