South Chatham Dehooker/Vent Tool
South Chatham Dehooker/Vent Tool
The J-shape de-hooker has been a standard piece of equipment on commercial fishing vessels for many years, and the reason is clear cut—it’s simple, nearly unbreakable, and highly effective. Simply put, no tool is as effective at removing a fish from an angler’s hook quickly and without any risk to the angler as the simple de-hooker.
Anglers who aren’t familiar with de-hookers soon will be. New federal regulations on bottom fishing require anglers to have and use one of the de-hookers while fishing for most bottom feeders. Additionally, anglers will soon be required to carry and use a venting tool on bottom fish to release the gases that accumulate in their abdominal cavities on the way up from the depths.
Sanford, NC’s South Chatham Tackle, an innovator of unique and effective saltwater fishing tools, has the perfect answer to the new regulations—the Dehooker/Venting Tool, a combination device that is exactly what the name implies.
The tool is available in several styles, the standard J-shape, and a newer push-pull design that has an additional U-hook in addition to the J-hook to allow easier removal of deep or awkwardly angled hooks.
Both feature an ergonomic offset T-handle that allows better control and comfort than a centered handle.
The handles of the tools also hide a venting tool (essentially a large-gauge needle) that makes for convenient and safe storage of the sharp tool and keeps it at the ready for convenient venting of fish to be released. Anglers should learn how to properly vent fish before using the tool, but once they do, use of a venting device is a proven way to reduce the effects of barotrauma (the aforementioned gas buildup) on bottom fish quickly hauled up from the seafloor to the surface.
De-hookers present anglers an effortless way to unhook spiny and sharp-edged bottom feeders like grouper, snapper, sea bass, and more. Using the tool will eliminate the all-too-familiar problem of returning from a bottom fishing trip with swollen hands covered in spine punctures and gill cuts.
With the addition of the venting needle, the South Chatham Dehooker/Venting Tool will also reduce the impact on fish to be released, so purchasing one of the tools offers anglers a way to make a bottom fishing trip have less impact on both themselves and the resource they’re depending on.
Anglers can check out the Dehooker/Venting Tool and other South Chatham Products like line spoolers, gaffs, harpoons, and more at www.southchathamtackle.com.
