Abstract

The aim of this study which was carried out on different bottoms is to reveal that 4 different sizes (2, 4, 6, 8 no) of straight and kirbed hooks on 4 tippets used on the Suez puffer Lagocephalus suezensis to determine elimination by using the most used hooks in handline fishing between September 2015 and March 2016 in Gökova Bay in the Aegean Sea. Throughout the fieldworks, 44 individuals of Suez Puffer have been caught. Total weights were ranged from 10.99 g to 86.29 g. 10.68 % (1525.55 g) of obtained total catch (14658.53 g) was captured with straight and kirbed hooks. Total lengths were ranged from 8.2 cm to 16.2 cm and SL-W relation was significant (R2 :0.97). The relationship between mouth size and SL was insignificant (R2 :0.40). Except two of individuals which have been caught from eye and dorsal side, there was no vital wounds observed on fish samples. The reactions to the bait after fishing lines casted in 4.42 min. (sd. 4.98 min.) and over 50% of captured individuals were fished in less than 3 minutes. There was no statistical difference found between two type of hooks (P<2.34). During the study, 60% of 44 fishes obtained were caught with straight hooks and 40% with kirbed hooks. Consequently, as seen in the percentages, given that 10.6% of the population in industrialized countries is interested in recreational fishing, encouragement people to recreational fishing, thus, to fish pufferfishes by specific recreational fishing methods is one of alternative ways to control of pufferfish population in our waters.