Yeah, can crush or file the barbs but I'm keen to experiment with the factory made barbless circle hooks but do you think I can find a NZ distributor that bothers with them? Not many, if any, so far at least.

Can buy them overseas. Mustad, Owner, Eagle Claw, Gamakatsu. But can't seem to find them here and may have to bite the bullet and buy from overseas.

Does anyone know where I can get them here please? Am I the only freak who doesn't want to crush or file the barbs?

Maybe nobody here even uses barbless?

kingiFiddla wrote: Yeah, can crush or file the barbs but I'm keen to experiment with the factory made barbless circle hooks but do you think I can find a NZ distributor that bothers with them? Not many, if any, so far at least. Can buy them overseas. Mustad, Owner, Eagle Claw, Gamakatsu. But can't seem to find them here and may have to bite the bullet and buy from overseas. Does anyone know where I can get them here please? Am I the only freak who doesn't want to crush or file the barbs? Maybe nobody here even uses barbless?

The baits come off and I'm too lazy to tie them on, but I've only tried crushing the barbs so don't know where to get them. I suspect they wouldn't sell and it is very easy to squish the barbs down flat

I think it's fair to say that most NZers fish for food as well as sport, so that probably explains why barbless hooks are hard to find. Personally, I'm not too keen on C&R, preferring to catch what I need and then go home, but each to their own. Livebaits with barbless hooks will be a headache, but there are ways around it.

The subject og barbless hooks came up in the forums some years back.
 So as I do , I decided to have a 'play'
 East coat, bottom end and fishing for a feed more than anything.
Smudges comment, "hard to keep bait on the hook"
 Well yes and no.
 Found several things... we use mullet, KY , trev.. solid baits.
1/ there is a saying , big baits big fish.  yes
 The hooks must match the bait size. use baits too big for the hook  pickers tend 'lift', take it away with barbless
2/ good size, hung well, good shape, worked well, and especially well on fixed keeper hook stray line.

I fish with the barb end of the hook thru one end of the bait only And the barb end very exposed from the bait. If a little thick meat on the bait ( ie bait is too big for the hook) I will then put the hook thru so the barb end is on the skin side.. often do that anyway.
 Basically if the bait looks too small for the hook you are good to go , and a 7 or 8/0 with a good hung bait will pull a smaller mid 30 cm snapper nps.

KY on barbless is just hopeless, espec on a lighter sb type rod.
 We have a lot of experienced crew come out with us.. always willing to learn I watch, ask..its surprising the number of regular rec fishermen who 'over bait' their hooks... very much big bait big fish.. but wrong hook size/ type for that size.


 I played with barbless..... works if done right.. have not done so again for a few yrs now.

using 8/0 circle hooks and found snapper getting them to gill area

Maybe how you hang the baits cause the circles not to roll well? I have questioned myself on that...then constantly hooked baits at one end, hanging , doesnt seem to happen now

so now gone back to J hooks and strike on bite and found lipped hooked.

Have been using a few older packets of J hooks on top or bottom, random, of my ledgers...Thu still fish circle.. 'give them at least 5m run, 15+m in winter'  then just loooaaad it up 'feel the hook roll and go in' 
Doesnt matter if J or circle... ot the heavy jig Im using as a sinker at the bottom.
They all seem to be working as well as each  other since late spring.

Think Greg at Gofish who still has stock had Eagle Claw ones. Shop is closed but he is still contactable.

I managed to hook myself while aiding a mate who caught a kahawai on a 8/0flasher rig. Turned the hook until it popped out, flattened the barb (Gamakatsu) and removed he hook.