[JDTuna]

A few select portions of the article written by NJ Fish and Game:

"Overall, requiring the use of barbless hooks is not beneficial to trout populations and can reduce angler catch rates. In the end, with the lack of strong scientific support, the best option may be to let anglers continue to decide for themselves.

A majority of scientific
studies on trout, a species intolerant of any level of mishandling, have shown that mortality from either barbed or barbless hooks is not significantly different (Mongillo 1984; Schill and Scarpella 1997; Dubois and Dubielzig 2004; Dubois and Pleski
2007.)* This suggests there is scant biological basis for restricting barbed hooks.

*The data is based on two major scientific papers which reviewed multiple studies; Taylor and White (1992, review of 18 hooking studies); and a review by Mongillo (1984). Both concluded that the number of hooks did not show a statistically significant
relationship to hooking mortality. Mongillo (1984) concluded that little justification exists for gear restrictions for artificials and data even indicates that the practice of using single hooks on lures may actually cause higher mortality than treble hooks."

This is not a conservation or biological issue. In fact, some research shows barbed hooks and trebles result in less mortality than single, barbless hooks. This is about a special interest group attempting to shoehorn in regulations based on their own misconceptions regarding spin fishing, and attempting to limit another user group. Regulations are meant to conserve, sustain and enhance the resource...NOT to placate a particular user group. The reasoning behind these changes are not why gear restrictions should be implemented. These regulations are unnecessary, unfair and should be removed. Leave it at artificial and fly in those areas.