Fish hook

A curved, pointed device attached to fishing line that penetrates and holds a fish. Many hooks have a backward-facing barb that resists slipping out.

Hook point: The sharpened tip of a hook that penetrates a fish’s mouth or body. Its sharpness and geometry govern how readily the hook penetrates.
Fishing line: A cord used to connect fishing tackle to a rod, hand, or fishing vessel. The line carries the hook and transmits tension when a fish takes it.
Fly fishing: A fishing method that uses a lightweight artificial fly and specialized casting tackle. Fly patterns commonly carry small hooks sized and shaped for particular fish.
Fishhook (archaeology): An archaeological artifact shaped to catch fish, often made from bone, shell, wood, or metal. Ancient examples document the long history of the device’s basic catching form.
Barb: A backward-facing projection near a hook point that resists withdrawal. The barb helps keep a penetrated hook from slipping free.
Fishing rod: A flexible pole used to cast and control a fishing line. The rod and line deliver a hook and help set it under tension.
Longline fishing: A fishing method using a main line bearing many baited branch lines and hooks. Hooks are deployed in large numbers to catch fish across an extended fishing ground.
Bone tool: A tool manufactured from animal bone for practical or symbolic use. Bone was fashioned into fish hooks before metal became widely available.
Hook gap: The distance between a hook’s point and shank. Gap width affects whether the point can catch and hold tissue.
Fishing bait: Food or an imitation used to attract fish to fishing tackle. Bait is commonly placed on or near a hook to prompt a fish to take it.

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AnglingRelated: Hook shape and placement determine how fish are retained and released.