Sheepshead fish hook

Abstract

A fish hook with at least four barbs specially configured to neutralize the strike of the sheepshead fish, and increase the strike/catch ratio, is described herein.

Claims

1. A fish hook specially adapted for use with sheepshead fish, comprising: a shank; a first set and a second set of curved elongated members, each of said curved elongated members originating from said shank at a same point, and terminating in a barb, wherein, each of said first set and said second set of curved elongated members lie entirely within, and thereby define a first plane and a second plane, respectively; wherein at least one curved elongated member in said first set of curved elongated members is disposed on an opposite side of said shank from a second curved elongated member in said first set of curved elongated members in said first plane; wherein all said curved elongated members in said second set of curved elongated members are disposed in a plane on a same side of said shank, and said barbs of said curved elongated members in said second set are disposed at different distances from said shank; and wherein said first and said second planes are perpendicular to each other with a line of intersection of said planes defined by said shank.

2. The fishhook of claim 1, wherein the barbs of said second set of curved elongated members point in substantially the same direction.

3. The fishhook of claim 1, wherein said second set of curved elongated members is comprised of exactly two elongated curved members.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is an isometric view of the hook.

(2) FIG. 2 is a top view of the hook design.

(3) FIG. 3 is a front view of the hook

(4) FIG. 4 is a right side view of the hook.

(5) FIG. 5 is a left side view of the hook.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(6) FIG. 1 is an isometric view of the overall configuration of the preferred embodiment of the hook specially designed to catch sheepshead fish. Like other prior art hooks, the sheepshead hook features an eye 1, allowing fishing line to be attached to the hook, and a shank 2, as well as four barbs. However, the configuration of the barbs in two perpendicular planes intersecting along the line of the shank is uniquely designed to neutralize the unique nature, angle, and direction of the sheepshead's strike and thereby increase the strike/catch ratio and reduce the amount of bait stolen by the sheepshead. As shown in FIGS. 1 through 5, two of the barbs 3 and 4 lie in one plane and both are on the same side of the shank, i.e. viewed from above, the lateral angle between the two barbs is zero degrees. Barbs 5 and 6 are both located in a second plane that is perpendicular to the plane containing barbs 3 and 4. The lateral angle between the other two barbs 5 and 6 is 180 degress, that is, they are located on opposite sides of the shank.

(7) In this embodiment, the live bait (e.g. fiddler crabs) is affixed to barb 4. The hook is made from any suitable material known to the art, e.g. stainless steel.

(8) With the barbs configured as described above, the bait is surrounded by barbs. The sheesphead fish must bite on at least one hook regardless of the approach of its bite. On three sides, there is a hook; and, the fourth side is blocked by the shank.