Hook Prevention and Removal

How to Prevent Accidentally Hooking Sea Turtles

Inspect your gear before you begin fishing to reduce line breaks while fishing
Use barbless hooks to reduce injury to sea turtles, fish and people
- Barbed hooks can be modified by crimping the barbs down with pliers to help minimize injury
Use non-stainless steel hooks that will eventually corrode
Use artificial fish bait which is less attractive to sea turtles
Never leave fishing gear unattended for any length of time and check your bait often
Don’t discard bait or fish scraps in the water because this will attract sea turtles and other animals
Never intentionally feed sea turtles
Put used fishing line in a monofilament recycling bin
Put all other trash in trash cans, leave no trace
Move to another area if you spot a sea turtle, especially in areas where turtles are likely to gather such as seagrass beds and rock jetties
Report sea turtle sightings using the iSeaTurtle app for Android or iPhone

How to make hooks barbless.

If possible, DO NOT return sea turtles to the water with hooks intact, instead:

Step 1: Don’t Panic! You will not get in trouble for accidentally hooking sea turtles, so please report it!
Step 2: Call the sea turtle hotline 1-866-TURTLE-5 or 1-866-887-8535 for help
Step 3: Provide your contact information and location as well as the animal’s size and condition
Step 4: Gently reel in the slack-line, keeping the animal above water to breathe
Step 5: DO NOT tug or pull on the line; minimize injury by reducing tension
Step 6: If possible, lift the turtle out of the water by its shell or use a dip net and bring it onto a boat or land
Step 7: Place turtle on a cushioned surface, such as a tire, and DO NOT flip onto its back unless instructed
Step 8: Keep the turtle wet and in a shaded area constantly when out of water
Step 9: Cut the line, but leave at least 1 foot with the hook to help rescuers remove it later
Step 10: Stay with the animal and wait for rescuers