Muthupandi, K.; Naganandhini, V.; Vasanth, K.; Neethiselvan, N.; Padmavathy, P., and Radhakrishnan, K., 2025. Optimization of the J hook number on the catching efficiency of Carangids in the Gulf of Mannar, India. Journal of Coastal Research, 41(2), 366–372. Charlotte (North Carolina), ISSN 0749-0208.

The efficiency of different J hook numbers 7, 8, and 9 in carangid longline fishing gear was studied from January to August 2022. As revealed through the hooking rate, the highest percentage of contribution in terms of number was observed for Alectis indicus (35.6%), Caranx ignobilis (23.3%), C. hippos (17.0%), Scomberoides commersonnianus (13.8%), and Megalaspis cordyla (10.3%). However, an increased percentage contribution when the catch composition was expressed as the basis of weight instead of number for C. ignobilis (35.2%) was dominant, followed by A. indicus (33.7%), C. hippos (11.5%), S. commersonnianus (10.9%), and M. cordyla (8.7%). The result showed that when using hook number 8, the highest percentage compositions of the carangids was 41% followed by hook number 9 and hook number 7, which were 33.4% and 25.6%, respectively, in terms of number basis; the hook size influenced the catch rate of carangids and body weight (p < 0.05). Further, in terms of weight basis, hook number 8 ranked first (43.5%) among the three hook numbers. Considering catch rates, the overall catch per unit effort (individual/1000 hooks) of hook number 8 was 4.31 higher than that of hook numbers 7 and 9. Among the three hook numbers, the overall performance of hook number 8 was found to be better than that of numbers 7 and 9 in terms of higher catch efficiency and catch per unit effort for carangids.