AU2003204142B1 - Method and apparatus for long-line fishing - Google Patents

Description

TITLE: METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR LONG-LINE FISHING THIS INVENTION relates to improvements to long-line fishing apparatus and in particular to a method of, and apparatus for, increasing the catch in long line fishing.

The present invention also relates to a fishing lure or attractant for use in long-line fishing.

Long-line fishing is primarily used in open waters and used to target specific fish such as tuna or billfish. Many different variations of long-line fishing gear are available and used. However, generally, a main fishing line is provided with a number of spaced branch or secondary lines, each of which carries a hook. The main fishing line may be coupled to a fishing vessel where it is wound upon a suitable reel. In one arrangement, the main fishing line may be suspended at a set depth within the water. In this arrangement, a series of floats are provided and a series of vertical droppers provided between the floats and the main fishing line to support the main fishing line above the ocean floor.

Whilst long-line fishing is relatively productive in the number of fish that are caught, fishing is becoming increasingly competitive and the costs of operation have increased substantially in recent times. Therefore it would be desirable to increase the catch from long-line fishing and thus the profitability of the business.

It is an object of the present invention therefore to provide a method and means for increasing the catch in long-line fishing. The present invention in particular aims to provide a method and means for attracting fish to long-line fishing apparatus to thus increase the possible fish catch. The present invention also aims to provide a fishing lure or attractant particularly for use in long-line fishing. Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description.

The present invention thus provides, in a first preferred aspect, a method of attracting fish to a long-line fishing apparatus of the type having a main fishing line carrying a series of hooks, buoyant support means for supporting said main fishing line at a required depth in a body of water, and a plurality of dropper lines supporting said main fishing line from said buoyant support means, said method including the steps of providing fish attracting means, and associating said fish attracting means with one or more of said dropper lines.

Suitably, said fish attracting means is connected to one or more of the dropper lines.

Preferably, the or each fish attracting means is connected between the respective dropper line and the main fishing line.

The present invention in a further preferred aspect provides long-line fishing apparatus, said apparatus having a main fishing line carrying a series of hooks, buoyant support means for supporting said main fishing line at a required depth in a body of water, a plurality of dropper lines supporting said main fishing line from said buoyant support means, and fish attracting means associated with one or more of said dropper lines.

Preferably, the fish attracting means comprise rotatable fish attracting means. Most preferably, the fish attracting means includes an attractant body supported such as to rotate or spin when the fish attracting means is moved in the body of water.

Preferably, the fish attracting means is capable of reflecting light. For this purpose, the body of the fish attracting means may be formed of a light reflective material or may carry a light reflective material. When in use during daylight, this light reflective material will reflect natural sunlight. At night, it can reflect the artificial light from a lightstick or similar which can be attached at any convenient location to the fish attracting means.

The rotatable body of the fish attracting means is suitably supported for rotation on a support axle or shaft. The support axle or shaft is suitably longitudinally aligned with a dropper line. Most preferably, the support axle or shaft is connected between the dropper line and main fishing line such that the axle or shaft is oriented substantially vertically in use. The support axle or shaft is suitably coupled at least at one end to the dropper line. The support axle or shaft is also suitably releasably coupled at its opposite end to the main fishing line.

When the support axle or shaft of the fish attracting means is oriented substantially vertically, movement of the axle or shaft in at least one vertical direction in the body of water suitably causes rotation of the main body of the fish attracting means.

Preferably movement of the axle or shaft in opposite vertical directions causes rotation of the body of the fish attracting means in opposition directions. Preferably, the body of the fish attracting means includes or is provided with one or more, flaps, fins or vanes which cooperate with the water to cause rotation of the body when the fish attracting means is moved in water.

Movement of the axle or shaft in opposite directions suitably occurs as a result of movement of surface of the body of water in which the long line apparatus is used.

Movement of the surface of the water may be as a result of wave or swell action which will cause raising or lowering of the buoyant support means of the main fishing line and thus the dropper lines which support the main fishing line and to which the fish attracting means are suitably connected. The buoyant support means suitably comprises a plurality of buoys with a dropper line depending from each buoy.

The present invention in a further aspect provides a fish attracting device for use in long-line fishing, said fish attracting device having a main body, said main body having a light reflective surface, means for supporting said main body for rotation about a rotational axis, and said main body being configured such that when said fish attracting device is moved in water in a direction longitudinally of said rotational axis, said main body is caused to rotate about said axis.

Preferably, the main body is configured such that when the fish attracting device is moved in opposite longitudinal directions, the main body is caused to rotate in opposite directions about the rotational axis.

Preferably, the main body includes one or more flaps, fins, vanes or blades which cooperate with the water when the device is moved in the or each longitudinal direction to cause rotation of the main body.

Preferably, the main body is supported on a support axle or shaft which defines the axis of rotation of the main body.

The long-line fishing apparatus is suitably apparatus of the type having a main fishing line carrying a series of hooks, buoyant support means for supporting the main fishing line at a required depth in a body of water, and a plurality of dropper lines supporting the main fishing line from the buoyant support means.

The support axle or shaft of the attracting device preferably includes coupling means for coupling the device to a dropper line of long-line fishing apparatus such that the pivot shaft or axle extends longitudinally of the dropper line.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a front elevation view of an embodiment of a fish attracting device according to the present invention with associated line coupling means; Fig. 2 is a side elevation view of the fish attracting device of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a top view of the fish attracting device of Fig. 1; and Fig. 4 illustrates long-line fishing apparatus using a multiple of the fish attracting device of Figs. 1 to 3.

Referring to the drawings and firstly to Figs. 1 to 3, there is illustrated a fish attracting device or lure 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention comprising a main body 11 formed of a planar sheet material and having light reflective surfaces 12 on opposite sides. Typically, the body 11 is formed of stainless steel sheet with the major surfaces polished such that the surfaces are inherently light reflective, however the body 11 may be formed of other reflective materials or materials provided with a light reflective surface coating or finish on at least one and preferably both sides.

The body 11 includes a main body portion 13 which is of a generally rectangular configuration and which has a central aperture 14. Upper and lower mounting lugs and 16 extend in opposite directions from the main body portion 13. The lugs and 16 include apertures 17 and 18 which are aligned with each other and with the central aperture 14 in the body portion 13 whereby a support axle or shaft 19 can extend therethrough. The support axle or shaft 19 may be formed of a relatively stiff wire with opposite ends thereof being looped back upon themselves to form coupling eyes 20 and 21. A bearing ball 22 through which the axle or shaft 19 passes is provided between the lower eye 21 and lower lug 16 such that the lug 16 normally seats on the ball 22. Typically the ball 22 is formed of a plastics material. The body 11 is thus supported for rotation about the axle or shaft 19.

As shown more clearly in Fig 2, the body portion 13, consequent to the abovedescribed pivotal mounting arrangement, is skewed to the axle or shaft 19 being at an acute angle thereto. The upper opposite corners 23 and 24 of the body portion 13 are angled in opposite directions by being bent along diagonal fold or bend lines and 26 respectively. Flaps 27 and 28 are provided as extensions of the upper corners 23 and 24, the flaps 27 and 28 being angled along fold or bend lines 29 and in the same direction as the corners 23 and 24 but at an increased angle as is apparent in Fig. 2. Opposite flaps 31 and 32 are also provided as extensions at the lower edge of the main body portion 13, the flaps 31 and 32 being bent along fold or bend lines 33 and 34 relative to the main body portion 13. The flap 31 is angled from the main body portion 13 in a direction opposite the flap 27 and the flap 32 is angled from the main body portion 13 in a direction opposite the flap 28.

The arrangement of the corners 23 and 24 and flaps 27, 28, 31 and 32 is such that when the device 10 is moved in water in opposite directions along the axis defined by the axle or shaft 19, the relative movement of the water to the device 10 will be translated into rotation of the body 11 in opposite directions about the axle or shaft 19. Thus, assuming that the device 10 is moved upwardly in water from the position of Fig. 1, the body 11 will rotate in the direction A shown in Fig. 3. Movement of the device 10 in downwardly will cause rotation of the body 11 in the direction opposite to the direction A.

It will be appreciated that the corners 23 and 24 and flaps 27, 28, 31 and 32 may be in many different configurations which will be effective in causing rotation of the body 11 about the axle or shaft 19 when the device 10 is moved in water.

For use in long-line fishing apparatus, the lower eye 21 of the fish attracting device may be directly connected to a swivel 35 (as illustrated) which is coupled to a fastener 36 for connection to the main fishing line as described further below.

(Alternatively, an additional dropper line (not illustrated), typically of about 2 metres in length, may first be connected between the lower eye 21 and the swivel 35.) The fastener 36 may comprise a branch snap fastener which can snap engage with the main fishing line.

Referring now to Fig. 4, there is illustrated a typical long-line fishing apparatus 37 with which the attracting device 10 according to the embodiment of the invention may be used. As illustrated, the apparatus 37 includes a main fishing line 38 which trails from a fishing vessel 39, the main fishing line 38 carrying a plurality of spaced branch or secondary lines 40 carrying hooks 41. If necessary, the main fishing line 38 and/or branch lines 40 may be weighted with suitable sinkers or weights. The main fishing line 38 is suspended at a set level typically 20 metres below the surface of the water by a plurality of dropper lines 42 supported by respective floats 43. The floats 43 are coupled together by a float line 44 which also trails from the vessel 39.

Associated with each dropper line 42 is a fish attracting device 10 of the type described above. The lower end of each dropper line 42 is coupled to the upper eye of the axle or shaft 19 whilst the branch snap 36 is snap-engaged with the main fishing line 38 (as shown in dotted outline in Fig. 1) such that the main fishing line 38 is supported to the dropper line 31 via the shafts or axles 19 of the fish attracting devices 10, swivels 35 and branch snaps 36. Further, the shafts or axles 19 are aligned substantially with the dropper lines 42 and thus oriented substantially vertically.

In use, wave or swell action at the surface 45 of the water will cause the floats 43 to lift and lower. This will consequently cause lifting and lowering of the attached dropper lines 42 and thus substantially vertical movement of the fish attracting devices 10 coupled through the axles or shafts 19 to the dropper lines 42 in opposite directions in the body 46 of water. This motion as referred to above causes, because of the configuration of the body 11 of the devices 10, rotation of the body portions 13 in opposite directions. The reflective surfaces 12 of the body portion 13 will reflect light and as the body portion 13 rotates, the light will reflect in a multitude of directions. This will attract fish towards the devices 10 and thus towards the longline fishing apparatus 10 and the baits carried by the hooks 41. As a result, a greater potential exists for an increased catch of fish.

The fish attracting device 10 described above is in a generally rectangular or square configuration however it may be in other configurations. Further, as referred to above, the configuration of the flaps or vanes may be varied. Whilst it is preferred that the body portion 13 have reflective surfaces 12, the surfaces 12 may carry a range of colours or designs to attract fish. More than one fish attracting device may also be associated with each dropper line 42.

Whilst the above has been given by way of illustrative embodiment of the invention, all such variations and modifications thereto as would be apparent to persons skilled in the art are deemed to fall within the broad scope and ambit of the invention as defined in the following claims.

Claims (19)

1. A method of attracting fish to a long-line fishing apparatus of a type having a main fishing line carrying a series of hooks, buoyant support means for supporting said main fishing line at a required depth in a body of water, and a plurality of dropper lines supporting said main fishing line from said buoyant support means, said method including the steps of providing fish attracting means, and associating said fish attracting means with one or more of said dropper lines.

2. A method as defined in Claim 1 wherein, said fish attracting means is connected to one or more of said dropper lines.

3. A method as defined in Claim 2 wherein, each said fish attracting means is connected between a respective said dropper line and said main fishing line.

4. A long-line fishing apparatus, said apparatus having a main fishing line carrying a series of hooks, buoyant support means for supporting said main fishing line at a required depth in a body of water, a plurality of dropper lines supporting said main fishing line from said buoyant support means, and fish attracting means associated with one or more of said dropper lines.

A long-line fishing apparatus as defined in Claim 4 wherein, said fish attracting means comprises a rotatable fish attracting device.

6. A fish attracting device of a type for use in a long-line fishing apparatus as defined in Claim 5, said fish attracting device including an attractant body and a means for supporting said attractant body for rotation about a rotational axis, adapted such that when said fish attracting device is moved in said water in a direction longitudinally of said axis, said attractant body is caused to rotate about said axis.

7. A fish attracting device as defined in Claim 6 wherein, said attractant body is adapted such that when said fish attracting device is moved in opposite longitudinal directions, said attractant body is caused to rotate in opposite directions about said rotational axis.

8. A fish attracting device as defined in Claim 7 wherein, said attractant body includes one or more, flaps, fins or vanes which cooperate with said water to cause said attractant body to rotate about said axis when said fish attracting device is moved in said water.

9. A fish attracting device as defined in any one of Claims 6 to 8 wherein, said means for supporting said attractant body for rotation is a support axle or shaft which defines said rotational axis.

A fish attracting device as defined in Claim 9 wherein, said support axle or shaft is aligned longitudinally with a said dropper line.

11. A fish attracting device as defined in Claim 10 wherein, said support axle or shaft is connected between said dropper line and said main fishing line such that said axle or shaft is oriented substantially vertically in use.

12. A fish attracting device as defined in Claim 11 wherein, said support axle or shaft is coupled at least at one end thereof to said dropper line.

13. A fish attracting device as defined in Claim 12 wherein, said support axle or shaft is further releasably coupled at its opposite end to said main fishing line.

14. A fish attracting device as defined in any one of Claims 6 to 13 wherein, said attractant body is capable of reflecting light.

A fish attracting device as defined in Claim 14 wherein, said attractant body is formed of a light reflective material.

16. A fish attracting device as defined in Claim 14 wherein, said attractant body carries a light reflective material.

17. A fish attracting device as defined in any one of Claims 14 to 16 wherein, a source of artificial light is attached thereto.

18. A method of attracting fish to a long-line fishing apparatus substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

19. A long-line fishing apparatus substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings. A fish attracting device substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings. DATED THIS 12th DAY OF May 2003 FORTUNA SEAFOODS PTY LTD by its Patent Attorney Dr Kevin M Pullen