WO2011032198A1

WO2011032198A1 - Fishing apparatus

Info

Publication number: WO2011032198A1
Application number: PCT/AU2009/001233
Authority: WO
Inventors: Phillip William Ashworth; Peter Glynn Ashworth
Original assignee: Cp Brothers Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2009-09-17
Filing date: 2009-09-17
Publication date: 2011-03-24
Also published as: AU2009352659A1

Abstract

A carriage (17) is mounted on a track (11) and has a receiver (21) docking a weight-biased, capsule (20). A line (22) is secured axially to the capsule (20), passes through the receiver (21), and over a pulley (16) to a winch (31). The receiver (21) has a docking recess (36). The carriage (17) is secured to a launching line (40) which passes about a pulley assembly (41) mounted at the bottom of the track (11) to a launching winch (43). The capsule assembly (20) has a docking portion (46), an open lower end (47), a bait cavity (50) accessed through a baiting opening (53) and a slot (55) connecting the opening (53) with the open end (47). A closure (60) is biased closed across the open end (47) and has an outer conical surface (61). An inner conical surface (62) forms a radially divergent egress (48) for a bait passing from the bait cavity (50) to the outside. A bait is placed in the capsule, the launch winch (43) is activated to drive the carriage (17) down. The capsule (20) is launched by its own momentum. The winch (31) retrieves the limit line, water flushing the bait out past the closure (60) against its bias. On docking of the capsule (20), the retrieval of the limit line (22) causes the capsule (20) and carriage (17) to be drawn to the baiting up position awaiting the next operator-triggered cycle.

Description

FISHING APPARATUS

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to fishing apparatus. This invention has particular application to longline fishing apparatus for stern baiting a longline to prevent seabirds striking at the baits, and for illustrative purposes the invention will be described with reference to this application. However we envisage that this invention may find use in other applications such as deploying baits beneath the surface in fishing rigs generally.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The reference to any prior art in this specification is not, and should not be taken as, an acknowledgement or any form of suggestion that the referenced prior art forms part of the common general knowledge in the relevant art. Longline fishing requires deployment of a long line having a multitude of individual hooks connected to the line by snoods or droppers. As the line passes over the stern of the vessel travelling at a selected speed relative to the payout speed of the main line, one end of the snood is snapped onto the main line and the other end bearing the hook or gang of hooks is baited up and tossed overboard. The disadvantages include that the bait stays at or near the surface for a considerable distance behind the boat. Seabirds including albatross view the baits as a food source and attempt to take the baits, resulting in injuries and drownings as the birds are hooked. Statutory bycatch limits are enforced with observers and log books, adding to compliance costs for fishing.

Bird scaring such as the use of streamers ("tori lines") is used. The birds eventually learn to ignore the streamers. Where the streamers discourage one aggressive species such as albatross it often simply opens up the way for less aggressive species such as lesser petrels. The bycatch continues. Tori lines and night setting are the most common mitigation methods but other methods used included the weighting of swivels, dribbling a film of fish oil on the sea surface, water sprays, keeping deck lighting to a minimum, or using a powerful narrow- beam light. On small vessels there is a tendency for a tori line to get tangled in the mainline.

Weighting the swivels which attach the snoods to the main-line to sink the line faster is another mitigation method. However, placing a weight at the hook end of a snood is not favoured because if the line breaks with a fish of any size then the weight can be flung back very fast, a potential danger to a person in its path.

It has been proposed to enclose the baits for deployment. The bait is enclosed in a cover, denying access to bait and hook(s) to seabirds when the bait is deployed from the boat. The cover is selected to expose the bait when it is not accessible to the birds. One embodiment includes the use of a disposable tin clamshell housing having a fusible pin closure. Control of the time to deployment of the bait is variable and requires chemical action. The disposable parts are dispersed into the environment.

It has been proposed to hydrodynamically cause the baits to be drawn below the surface, either by the main line being configured to pull the dropper down rapidly or the dropper being so configured. However, this limits payout speeds to less than the boat speed and precludes fishing the line conventionally.

It has been proposed to launch the baits to a depth selected to reduce or prevent a bird striking the bait. Published examples include a 10m-long setting chute having an upper bait trough communicating with a slotted tube angling down aft from the transom. The upper end is hinged to the transom and the lower end is dynamically maintained at the deployment depth by paravanes. The hooked bait is fed into the upper bait trough and the other end of the snood is snapped to the main line. The main line then drags the snood and the baited hook down the chute with the snood passing along the slot. These examples rely on the bait being dragged to deployment. This makes the hooks mechanically active, and there is a tendency for hook fouling on equipment such as paravanes and cables, the setting chute etc. Other embodiments use water to flush baits down the chute, either from a deckhose source or by venturi effect. Such underwater setting devices have been the subject of much experimentation with devices which enable the mainline to be shot well under the surface, but none has been perfected.

The most promising embodiment of the underwater setting device is the bait deploying "capsule". A weighted transportation capsule on a recovery line clamps the baited snood until the capsule reaches its deployment depth determined by the length of the recovery line. At this point the carry-over action of the capsule and retrieval action releases the bait. Baits set by the capsule can be delivered to a pre-selected depth which can be varied; cycle time is dependent upon the depth selected and the dynamics of the capsule.

The most recent development to the method of deployment and retrieval of the capsule is a track that transports the capsule to some or all of the necessary depth. In this embodiment, a track is mounted over the stern of the vessel. A car is mounted for freely sliding motion along the track, the car being captive between the upper and lower ends of the track. A launch and retrieve line of selected length passes from a freespooling winch through an eye on the car and terminates at a capsule assembly. Operation of the winch retrieves the capsule until it docks with the car, and thereafter recovers the car and capsule in assembly to the top of the track where the capsule can be baited from deck level. The capsule assembly includes a capsule body of heavy cast metal construction. The capsule has a bait receiving cavity which is open at the top and bottom, the top and bottom opening being connected by a slot allowing passage for a snood. The bottom opening has a flap closure weakly biased to a closed position and adapted to secure the lower opening closed during deployment of the capsule and to be forced open hydrodynamically on retrieval. The capsule has hydrodynamic fins to control its "flight".

In use, the baited snood is dropped into the cavity through the top opening and the other end of the snood is snapped to the main line as it is payed out. The bait and hooks are protected from seabirds in the cavity. When the bait is loaded the winch is released and the capsule and car assembly drops to the bottom of the rail. When the car hits its stop the capsule keeps going down through the water. When the capsule is at the end of the line, the winch retrieves the capsule. Reverse water flow flushes the bait past the flap, and the snood clears the slot. The capsule is retrieved to the car and the car and capsule assembly is retrieved to the top of the track for reloading. Hydrodynamics (provided by the cast-in fins) and weight balance in the capsule effect alignment of the capsule with the car on recovery. Development trials identified design flaws. However, the capsule lowered bird activity in the area immediately behind the vessel in comparison to hooks set manually. There were occasions when tangles occurred. Further development was required to solve problems with tangling. The cast shapes of the capsule are empirical resulting in the inability to scale without undue experimentation. The casting is complex.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention in one aspect resides broadly in fishing apparatus including:

a capsule having a bait cavity extending from a baiting opening and a bottom opening, a slot in a side wall connecting said openings;

a closure movable substantially axial of said capsule to form an annular bait egress with said bottom opening;

a capsule carriage mounted on a track extending between a baiting position and a capsule launch position adjacent or below a waterline;

a limit line passing through a fairlead in said carriage to said capsule to limit the deployment depth of said capsule; and

a limit line retriever operable to dock said capsule with said carriage for recovery to said baiting position. The capsule may be of any suitable shape. For example, the capsule may be of a shape selected to enhance its speed of passage though the water, such as by streamlining. The shape is preferably symmetrical in cross section in order that it may be scaled without adversely affecting performance. For example, the capsule may be substantially cylindrical.

The capsule is intended to penetrate the water column rapidly and as such is preferably both dense and streamlined. The capsule may be formed of an inherently dense material. The capsule may be formed of a coated material or a material resistant to corrosion. The inner surfaces may be smoothed by polishing or coating to assist in insertion and deployment of baits. The capsule may be formed of MONEL^®, bronze or stainless steel. The capsule may be cast or fabricated. Where a capsule is formed of a lighter material such as polymer or aluminium, it may ballasted such as by way of a filler (in the case of polymer capsules) or encapsulated slugs.

The capsule may include weight bias selected to ballast the capsule to control towing attitude. The weight bias assists in providing recovery orientation and flight stability on deployment. It has been determined that hydrodynamic shaping such as dihedral or anhedral fins and the like are not necessary to deploy or recover the capsule of the present invention. The bait cavity in the capsule may be of any suitable shape. For example, the bait capsule may be substantially tubular and the bait cavity may comprise the hollow interior of the tubular form. Alternatively, the bait cavity may be optimized for the typical bait shape. For example, where the capsule is substantially cylindrical, the bait cavity may be defined by a surface dividing the cylindrical form lengthwise, such as along a generally axial plane.

The bait opening is preferably optimized to present for a crew member to insert a bait, such as a fish gang-hooked on a snood, as the capsule returns to the baiting position. To this end the bait opening may be presented to one side of the track consistently. By this means the crew member can locate close to the stern rail and the track can be bolted to the transom in its most vertical attitude. The capsule may be configured whereby it docks in the carriage in an orientation selected to consistently present the bait opening in the selected orientation. In 01233

6 these embodiments the bait opening may be through a side wall of the capsule. Alternatively, the bait opening may be at an upper or back annular end of the bait capsule, making rotational orientation about the axis irrelevant. The slot is to permit a baited line or snood to pass from the baiting opening to the bottom opening as the bait exits the bottom opening. The slot may be configured to reduce the likelihood of snagging of the snood or main line. For example the transition between the bait opening and the slot may include a lead-in portion including smoothly curved edges. The transition from the slot to the bottom opening may be configured to be clear of any structures that are likely to snag the snood or main line.

The closure is movable substantially axial of the capsule to form an annular bait egress with the bottom opening and so forms the bottom or leading portion of the assembly formed by it and the capsule. In this position the closure may include an outer or lower portion that is streamlined to form a nose or cone assisting the streamlining of the assembly as a whole. The axial movement may be supported by any suitable means. However, it is preferred that the annular bait egress be uncluttered by any support. For example, the axial movement may be on a substantially axial strut supported within the capsule.

The closure may be biased to the closed position or may be frictionally engaged for baiting and deployment. During the launch process, the passage through the water tends to hold the closure closed. However, it may be advantageous to provide a spring bias to ensure that the closure remains closed during baiting.

The inner or upper surface of the closure may be complementary to a seating rim portion about the bottom opening of the capsule. The inner surface of the closure and the seating rim portion may form a substantially snag-free radially-diverging annular egress for bait being flushed past the closure on recovery of the capsule. For example, the closure inner surface may comprise an at least partially conical surface substantially parallel to an at least partially conical surface formed about the inner wall of the capsule at the bottom opening thereof. The closure and T U2009/001233

7 egress annulus may cooperate to closely seal the bait cavity against water tending to flush the bait out of the cavity.

The closure may be positively released from the closed position (and the bait deployed) by unlocking or may be hydrodynamically operated by the act of retrieval. Hydrodynamic operation may include selection of a retrieval speed and bait opening to cause water pressure to force the closure to its open position and simultaneously flush the bait free of the bait cavity through the annular egress. The track may extend from a baiting position at deck level of a vessel and adapted to deploy over the stern of the vessel. Alternatively the track may deploy to one side such as from the stern quarter or may deploy to a well amidships, between hulls or through a fantail. The lower end of the track may provide for a capsule launch position adjacent or below the waterline. Preferably the launch position is below the waterline such that the recovery to the car is done in the hydrodynamic domain rather than in air. The track may be adapted to extend substantially vertically. However, where the environment dictates, the track may be off vertical. For example a stern mounted track may rake aft from top the bottom.

The track may take any form suitable for travel of the carriage between the two positions, preferably in a captive manner. The capsule carriage may be mounted for movement between the baiting and capsule launch positions by any suitable means. For example the carriage may be mounted to the track by captive rollers, PTFE or other polymer slides, endless chain or the like. The capsule carriage may be driven from its baiting position to the deployment position. Alternatively the carriage may be deployed by gravity from the baiting position. The capsule carriage may be recovered with the capsule by the limit line or may be recovered in tandem by associated lifting means under common control with the limit line retriever. The capsule carriage may be specifically adapted to cooperate with the capsule to ensure consistent docking orientation. For example the carriage may include a shaped docking portion adapted to cooperate with a complementarily shaped upper portion of the capsule to present the baiting opening in a consistent orientation at the baiting position. The capsule may latch into the carriage on recovery to be unlatched on deployment. Alternatively the capsule may passively dock to be retained on the up-cycle by the retrieval means.

The limit line may pass through a fairlead in the carriage which is also associated with a pivoting docking portion of the carriage, whereby the tension in the limit line orients the docking portion to receive the correspondingly shaped portion of the capsule. The limit line may be selected to allow the deployment of the baits to a specific depth. Alternatively, the limit line may be adjustable by controlling the deployed length by suitable control means. The limit line may be responsible for allowing deployment and providing recovery of the capsule only. Alternatively, the limit line may recover the capsule and carriage in docked assembly. The limit line may be secured substantially axially of the capsule whereby the recovery characteristics are governed by the weight bias of weight-biased, substantially cylindrical capsules. The limit line may be secured to the capsule by swaged fitting, rope clamp or the like. The limit line may be connected to the capsule by or via a swivel.

The limit line retriever may comprise a winch drum or a linear drive. The retriever may include control means operating devices such as rope clutches and the like.

Apparatus in accordance with the present invention is advantageously controlled by cyclic control means. The control means may be electrical, electronic, hydraulic or pneumatic. For example, in situations where electrical or electronic control is environmentally unserviceable, the control means may comprise a hydraulic or pneumatic controller. In any case the control means may be selected for one button cyclical operation. For example, the deckhand may load a bait in to the capsule, snap the snood to the main line and hit the cycle button. The control means may then release the limit line allowing the carriage to fall or be driven to the lower end of the track to release the capsule. The control means may then automatically cycle the retrieval means for recovery of the capsule to the carriage and the carriage and capsule assembly to the baiting position. It has been found that in practice deployment of bait capsules generally is enhanced by actively driving the capsule carriage from the baiting position to the bottom of the track to launch the capsule. Accordingly, the invention in one aspect resides broadly in a fishing apparatus including:

a closure movable to permit bait egress through said bottom opening;

a capsule carriage mounted to be driven on a track extending between a baiting position and a capsule launch position adjacent or below a waterline;

a limit line retriever operable to dock said capsule with said carriage for recovery to said baiting position.

The means for driving the carriage may include a rope or chain drive from a driven drum, pulley or sprocket at the top of the track and extending about an idler at the bottom of the track. The recovery phase of operation may include the limit line urging the carriage into docking engagement with the carriage and simply driving the means for driving the carriage backward to the baiting position. Alternatively, there may be provided a transducer providing a signal to control means whereby the means for driving is clutched free or is recovered actively by reverse operation of the sprocket, drum or pulley.

The invention in a further aspect resides broadly in fishing apparatus including: a substantially cylindrical capsule having a bait cavity extending from a baiting opening and a bottom opening, a slot in a side wall connecting said openings;

a closure operable to provide bait egress through said bottom opening and providing a substantially streamlined nose for said capsule in a closed position; a track extending between a baiting position and a capsule launch position adjacent or below a waterline;

a capsule carriage mounted for movement between said baiting and capsule launch positions and including complementary docking means adapted to dock said capsule in a selected radial orientation;

In a further aspect this invention resides broadly in a method of longline fishing including the steps of:

providing a vessel with fishing apparatus including a capsule having a bait cavity extending from a baiting opening and a bottom opening, a slot in a side wall connecting said openings, the closure operable to provide bait egress through said bottom opening, a capsule carriage mounted for movement on a track extending between a baiting position and a capsule launch position adjacent or below a waterline and including complementary docking means adapted to dock said capsule with said baiting opening presented in a selected position, a limit line passing through a fairlead in said carriage to said capsule, a limit line retriever operable to dock said capsule with said carriage for recovery to said baiting position, and control means adapted to cyclically launch and retrieve said capsule; preparing a plurality of baited hooks on snoods having means for attachment to a main line at the free end thereof;

deploying a main line astern of the vessel underway;

placing a baited hook in the bait cavity through the bait opening;

securing the means for attachment of the snood to the main line; and operating the control means to cause the carriage and capsule to travel down the track to release the capsule to the limit of the limit line and operate the limit line retriever to recover the capsule to the carriage and the carriage and capsule to the baiting position for rebaiting.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention will be described with reference to the following non-limiting embodiment of the invention as illustrated in the drawings and wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of fishing apparatus in accordance with the present invention and installed at the stern of a vessel;

Fig. 2 is a full assembly perspective view of the apparatus of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a detail view of the capsule, carriage and track assembly of the apparatus of Fig. 1 ;

Fig. 4 is a partially cut away view of the parts as per Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a detail view of the capsule of the apparatus of Fig. ; and

Fig. 6 is a partially cut away view of the capsule as per Fig. 5.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT

In the figures there is provided fishing apparatus for mounting on the stern 10 of a fishing vessel and including a track 11 mounted by a drop-on mount 12 welded to the stern 10. The upper end of the track 11 is co-mounted with a winch assembly 13 to the stern rail 14 of the vessel via rail clamps 15. A head pulley assembly 16 is mounted at the top of the track 11. A capsule carriage 17 is captively mounted for sliding movement on the track 11. A bait capsule assembly 20 docks to a pivoting docking receiver 21 of the capsule carriage 17.

A limit line 22 is secured to the bait capsule 20, and passes through a fairlead 23 in the pivoting docking receiver 21 , about a pulley 24 coaxial with the docking receiver pivot 25. The limit line 22 then passes over large 26 and small 27 pulleys of the head pulley assembly 16 and then via guide pulleys 30 in the winch assembly 13. The limit line 22 is then taken up and terminated on a hydraulically operated winch drum 31.

The capsule carriage 17 comprises a pair of spaced side plates 32 located substantially within the track 11 and having mounting rollers 33 engaging the track 11. Extending out of the slot 34 of the track 11 are mounting portions 35 spaced by the aforementioned pulley 24 coaxial with the docking receiver pivot 25. The pivoting docking receiver 21 has an ovoid, tapering recess 36. The lower ends of the side plates 32 are interconnected and spaced by a lower terminal portion 37 to which is terminated a launching line 40. The launching line 40 passes down within the slot 34 about a pulley assembly 41 mounted at the bottom of the track 1 . The launching line 40 then passes back up through the track 11 past the mount 12 to a turning pulley 42 and into the winch assembly 13 to be terminated and spooled onto a hydraulic launching winch 43 via idler pulley 44.

The capsule assembly 20 comprises a substantially cylindrical body 45 having a rear or upper ovoid tapered end portion 46 and an open lower end 47. The interior of the capsule assembly 20 forms a bait cavity 50, the inner surface of which is formed in part by a substantially axial wall portion 51. The capsule body 45 is weight biased to the side at 52. A baiting opening 53 is provided though the side wall of the substantially cylindrical body 45. The baiting opening 53 transitions via curved edges 54 to a slot 55 connecting the baiting opening 53 with the open lower end 47. The limit line 22 is secured to the axial position of the ovoid tapered end portion 46 whereby towing of the weight biased capsule causes the baiting opening 53 to present substantially to one side.

An axial bore 56 opens to the bottom of the capsule body 45 and captures an axial strut 57 to which is mounted a bottom closure 60. The axial bore 56 is integrally formed with the axial wall portion 51. The strut 57 is spring loaded by a tension spring in the bore 56 to bias the bottom closure to the closed position.

The bottom closure 60 has a double cone form whereby the outer or lower conical surface 61 forms a streamlining nose cone for the capsule assembly 20. The inner conical surface 62 forms, with the inner periphery of the open lower end 47 to form a generally radially divergent egress opening 48 for a bait passing from the bait cavity 50 to the outside. A control housing 63 includes a controller for the winch drum 31 and the launching winch 43. A remote control cycle activate button 49 is located on the side of the winch housing toward the operator and connected to the controller in the control box 63. An emergency power-on stop button 66 is located on the control box front panel. It allows power to the controller and once activated kills the launcher operations. A display panel 64 indicates faults and/or cycle position and operations data such as cycle count, depth setting etc. A run/maintenance switch 65 with 6 positions isolates the run mode from the maintenance operations, such as winding on cables, operating individual drives, and emergency recovery operation should sequence fail.

To operate, run/maintenance switch 65 is set to "run" mode, the emergency power-on stop button 66 is released and power is applied. The display panel 64 indicates the run status after initial power up.

Should the capsule /cart not be correctly placed in the home position the system corrects this before a run cycle commences. The cycle won't start unless the capsule and car are correctly placed. The run button 49 starts the cycle and is then locked out by the control means; it can not be restarted again until cycle completes. This is an important part of the operation as at this point the carriage's position is monitored before deployment. The run button 49 is also used during maintenance and emergency recovery for direct control over all maintenance operations.

A control cable 67 connects the controller to the winch assembly 13. The winches 31 , 43 are coordinated in their operation as follows.

In use, the limit line 22 is fully withdrawn onto its winch drum 31 which serves to park the ovoid rear or upper portion 46 of the capsule assembly 20 into the corresponding ovoid recess 36 of the pivoting docking receiver 21 , and further to hold the capsule carriage 17 at the top of the track 11. The launching line 40 is at full extension, having been unwound by the contrary action of the limit line 22 being wound onto the winch drum 31.

An operator activates the unit with the run/maintenance switch 65 set to "run" mode and the emergency power-on stop button 66 released, as described above . A main line (not shown) is deployed from the stern of the vessel in the conventional manner. The operator has access to a plurality of baited hooks each on a snood having a snap on connection which can be made to the main line. The bait is placed in the bait cavity 50 through the bait opening 53 and the free end of the snood is snapped to the main line. The operator then hits the run button 49, whereupon the control means activates and spools in the launch winch 43 and spools out the winch drum 31. The capsule carriage 17 is accelerated down the track 11 to its limit of downward travel whereupon the bait capsule assembly 20 is launched by its own momentum, disengaging the ovoid tapered portion 46 from the ovoid recess 36. The capsule assembly 20 continues down through the water column to a limit imposed by the length of the limit line 22.

At the end of its downward travel the forward motion of the vessel promotes an increase in the water pressure within the bait cavity 50. After a predetermined short delay after winch activation, the control means activates the winch drum 31 to retrieve the limit line to the winch drum 31. The combined motion of the capsule through the water increases the water pressure within the bait cavity 50 until the bottom closure 60 is pushed open, flushing the bait out through the radially divergent egress opening 48. The snood is guided by the curved edges 54 to pass down the slot 55 and clear the capsule assembly 20, to effect the deployment of the bait at the selected depth.

The towed capsule assembly 20 is stabilized in its orientation by its ballasting. As the limit line is retrieved, the gross orientation of the capsule assembly 20 enables the ovoid tapered portion 46 to be generally aligned with the ovoid recess 36. as the capsule assembly 20 docks with the pivoting docking receiver 21 the matching ovoid shapes effects terminal radial orientation of the capsule assembly 20 with the pivoting docking receiver 21. The capsule assembly 20 is being trailed behind the track on the recovery cycle. The limit line 22 acts on the fairlead 23 and about the pulley 24 to pivot the pivoting docking receiver 21 up to line up for docking of the capsule assembly 20.

On docking of the capsule assembly 20, the continued retrieval of the limit line 22 causes the capsule assembly 20 and capsule carriage 17 to be drawn up the track to the baiting up position, with the consequent unspooling of the launching line 40 from its launching winch 43, whereupon the cycle is complete and the control means rests the apparatus awaiting the next operator-triggered cycle initiated by operation of the run button 49. The baiting opening 53 is presented to the operator for the next baited hook to be placed.

Apparatus in accordance with the foregoing embodiment has the use of a substantially cylindrical body that is easier to manufacture than the cast, highly formed and empirically determined shapes of the prior art. The weighting of the capsule provides static orientation bias that is scalable without experimentation, relative to the hydrodynamic form of the prior art embodiments. The capsule body is shaped to provide terminal alignment to dock with said car in said selected orientation, providing a consistent baiting presentation for the deckhand. The streamlining of the nose closure helps the capsule to go rapidly to its limit imposed by the limit line. The axial motion of the nose and the shaped annular egress substantially eliminates snagging. The axial recovery line provides a recovery path readily stabilized by weight and form.

It will of course be realised that while the above has been given by way of illustrative example of this invention, all such and other modifications and variations thereto as would be apparent to persons skilled in the art are deemed to fall within the broad scope and ambit of this invention as is set forth in the claims appended hereto.

Claims

16

1. Fishing apparatus including:

2. Fishing apparatus according to claim , wherein the capsule is substantially cylindrical.

3. Fishing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the capsule includes weight bias selected to ballast the capsule to control towing attitude.

4. Fishing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the bait cavity is defined by a surface dividing the cylindrical form lengthwise along a generally axial plane.

5. Fishing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the bait opening is through a side wall of the capsule.

6. Fishing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the capsule is configured whereby it docks in the carriage in an orientation selected to consistently present the bait opening in the selected orientation.

7. Fishing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the slot is configured whereby a transition between the bait opening and the slot includes a lead-in portion including smoothly curved edges.

8. Fishing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the closure forms the bottom or leading portion of the assembly formed by it and the capsule.

9. Fishing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the closure includes an outer portion that is streamlined to form a streamlined nose for the capsule.

10. Fishing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the axial movement of the closure is along a substantially axial strut supported within the capsule. . Fishing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the closure is biased to the closed position.

12. Fishing apparatus according to claim 10, wherein a spring bias is provided to ensure that the closure remains closed during baiting.

13. Fishing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the inner surface of the closure is complementary to a seating rim portion about the bottom opening of the capsule.

14. Fishing apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the inner surface of the closure and the seating rim portion form a substantially snag-free radially-diverging annular egress for bait being flushed past the closure on recovery of the capsule.

15. Fishing apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the closure inner surface comprises an at least partially conical surface substantially parallel to an at least partially conical surface formed about the inner wall of the capsule at the bottom opening thereof.

16. Fishing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the closure is positively released from the closed position hydrodynamically by the act of retrieval causing increased water pressure in the bait cavity. 18

17. Fishing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the track extends from a baiting position at deck level of a vessel and adapted to deploy over the stern of the vessel. 8. Fishing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the lower end of the track provides for a capsule launch position below a waterline.

19. Fishing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the capsule carriage is mounted for movement between the baiting and capsule launch positions by means of captive rollers, polymer slides and endless chain.

20. Fishing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the capsule carriage is driven from its baiting position to the deployment position.

21. Fishing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the capsule carriage is recovered with the capsule by the limit line.

22. Fishing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the capsule carriage is recovered in tandem by associated lifting means under common control with the limit line retriever.

23. Fishing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the capsule carriage includes a shaped docking portion adapted to cooperate with a complementarily shaped upper portion of the capsule to present the baiting opening in a consistent orientation at the baiting position.

24. Fishing apparatus according to claim 23, wherein the limit line passes through a fairlead in the carriage which is also associated with a pivoting docking portion of the carriage, whereby the tension in the limit line orients the docking portion to receive the correspondingly shaped portion of the capsule.

25. Fishing apparatus according to claim , wherein the limit line is adjustable by controlling the deployed length. 19

26. Fishing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the capsule includes weight bias selected to ballast the capsule to control towing attitude and the limit line is secured substantially axially of the capsule whereby the recovery characteristics are governed by the weight bias.

27. Fishing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the limit line is secured to the capsule by means selected from swaged fittings and rope clamps.

28. Fishing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the limit line is connected to the capsule by or via a swivel.

29. Fishing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the limit line retriever comprises a winch drum or a linear drive.

30. Fishing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein operation of the carriage and capsule are under the control of cyclic control means.

31. Fishing apparatus according to claim 30, wherein the control means is selected for one button cyclical operation, whereby button operation releases the limit line allowing the carriage to fall or be driven to the lower end of the track to release the capsule, control means then automatically cycling the retrieval means for recovery of the capsule to the carriage and the carriage and capsule assembly to the baiting position.

32. Fishing apparatus including:

a closure movable to permit bait egress through said bottom opening;

a limit line passing through a fairlead in said carriage to said capsule to limit the deployment depth of said capsule; and 20 a limit line retriever operable to dock said capsule with said carriage for recovery to said baiting position.

33. Fishing apparatus according to claim 32, wherein the means for driving the carriage are selected from a rope or chain drive from a driven drum, pulley or sprocket at the top of the track and extending about an idler at the bottom of the track.

34. Fishing apparatus according to claim 32, wherein a recovery phase of operation includes the limit line urging the carriage into docking engagement with the carriage and driving the means for driving the carriage backward to the baiting position.

35. Fishing apparatus according to claim 32, wherein a recovery phase of operation includes a transducer providing a signal to control means whereby the means for driving is clutched free or is recovered actively by reverse operation of the sprocket, drum or pulley.

36. Fishing apparatus including:

a substantially cylindrical capsule having a bait cavity extending from a baiting opening and a bottom opening, a slot in a side wall connecting said openings;

37. A method of longline fishing including the steps of:

deploying a main line astern of the vessel underway;

placing a baited hook in the bait cavity through the bait opening;