Barbless hooks

Barbless hooks are fishing hooks designed without the small, sharp ridge called a barb on the hook's point. This feature makes it easier to unhook fish and reduces injury to them. While barbless hooks can make fish handling more efficient and are often preferred for catch-and-release fishing, they may sometimes make it slightly easier for fish to escape once hooked. Many anglers use them to promote more humane fishing practices and to minimize environmental impact, as regulations in some areas require the use of barbless hooks.