MATTOO wrote: My preference though in most of my fishing is to slowly retrieve the fish to enjoy the challenge and feel that when I release the fish it is in good health to do so.

Mattoo I think your missing a fundamental feature of type of  people who chase these records, they are proper sportsmen, whose  angling skils and ability very few here would ever be able to imagine let alone comprehend, they spend large amounts of money and time chasing the fish they catch...... and given the IGFA regulations they adhere to state " Captures in which the fish has not fought or had a chance to fight do not reflect credit on the fisherman" The suggestion that they back up and gaff free swimming fish that dont know their hooked shows how little you understand of what they do.

I've fished a lot with the J's and can tell you first hand Mattoo that what the top light tackle anglers have achieved is only through countless hours of practice, preparation and commitment to improvement. 

MATTOO wrote: Having re read all the above. I accept the opinions of those with greater knowledge and understanding of these techniques. It was most informative. I appreciate all the input and views. Thanks.

dont think anyone will be pitch baiting with j hooks marligator , I've only ever seen small high carbon owner circles used in my limited opportunities to do it.
And the fly fishing was done with fine gauge fly hooks .
I would imagine more fish are killed inadvertently by guys whos main aim is to get a tag in at all costs even if that means missing a early shot at cutting a fish loose at the leader and releasing a green healthy fish .
Don't understand that aye I would rather cut a fired up fish off then tag a brown hunk of meat , quicker you can cut it free the sooner you can get your next one.

Josh is there any chance you could post a picture of these hooks or a link to these hooks.

Thanks Josh - They are the same as we used for the Bluefin off the west coast. I have used these live baiting skippies and of the 5 strikes we got from marlin, we pulled the hooks on all the fish, luckily two of them the hooks came out after the tag went in one and the gaff in another. I think the problem was we gave the fish too long to get the baits down and they all choked on the baits (basically just wound them straight to the boat, a good crew could have backed up and gaffed them all without any fuss as they just sat on the surface for ages thrashing their heads about before we wound them straight to the boat where they all fell off with 30m of the boat or at the boat after several minutes) in their throats rather hooking in the corner of the mouth and this was with 37 kg line on 4 fish and 15 on the other.

JoshW wrote: http://segyehook.en.ec21.com/Tuna_Hook_with_A_Ring--6086003.html

I got a sword at Mayor at night a few years on one of those hooks using a squid, hooked perfectly in corner of mouth.

Hi AC, have seen you around for a while, good to see your still there.
Actually started to make the plunge before my post. And I was second guessing myself.
I new there would be a wealth of knowledge in this forum. And there was. And informative and rewarding as in it reinforced my push forward to chase these techniques to improve my skill and hence my passion for most forms of fishing.
Had a bad case of TAS with this and have put in a lot of prep, now looking forward to my first outing,with new kit.