Snagging

Snagging, also known as snag fishing, snatching, snatch fishing, jagging (Australia), or foul hooking, is a method of fishing that entails catching a fish using hooks without the fish having to take the bait with their mouth. This is achieved by pulling the fishing line out of the water very quickly as soon as any movement is felt on the line, with the intention of piercing the fish in the flesh with the hook. Weighted lures with multiple hooks are often used to increase chances of success.^[1]

Some species, such as paddlefish, are not attracted to bait or lures as they eat plankton. While these fish can be taken using nets or spears, snagging is also used.^[2] However, for fish species that can be enticed to strike natural or artificial lures, the use of snagging techniques is often discouraged or prohibited as it is viewed as violating the doctrine of "fair chase"^[3] and has been associated with social problems and overfishing.^[4]

Technique

After first casting a hook into the water, a snagger will wait until a fish sighted, at which time they will reel in the hook until it is positioned above the fish. Once the fish is in line with the hook, the snagger then yanks on the line to "snag" the fish before attempting to reel it in. When fishing in a clear river, most snaggers will be able to observe their target's shadow or wake in the water to determine where their hooks need to be and when. To keep view of the hook, some snaggers use a brightly colored ribbon or cloth near the hook.

Legality

United States

Snagging, like other methods of fishing, is controlled by the wildlife regulating agency of each state. A list of the legality for each state follows.

State	Status
Alabama	Prohibited with exceptions.[5]
Alaska	Prohibited with exceptions.[6]
Arizona	Prohibited with exceptions.[7]
Arkansas	Prohibited with exceptions.[8]
California	Legal only rough fish I.e carp.[9]
Colorado	Prohibited with exceptions.[10]
Connecticut	Prohibited with exceptions.[11]
Delaware	Prohibited with exceptions.[12]
District of Columbia	Illegal.[13]
Florida	Unknown.[14]
Georgia	Illegal.[15]
Hawaii	Legal but prohibited in certain areas.[16]
Idaho	Illegal.[17]
Illinois	Legal for some species during certain seasons.[18]
Indiana	Illegal.[19]
Iowa	Prohibited with exceptions.[20]
Kansas	Legal for Paddlefish.[21]
Kentucky	Legal for some species.[22]
Louisiana	Prohibited with exceptions.[23]
Maine	Prohibited with exceptions.[24]
Maryland	Illegal.[25]
Massachusetts	Illegal.[26]
Michigan	Illegal.[27]
Minnesota	Illegal.[28]
Mississippi	Unknown.[29]
Missouri	Prohibited with exceptions.[30]
Montana	Prohibited with exceptions.[31]
Nebraska	Prohibited with exceptions.[32]
Nevada	Prohibited with exceptions.[33]
New Hampshire	Prohibited in freshwater.[34]
New Jersey	Prohibited with exceptions.[35]
New Mexico	Prohibited with exceptions.[36]
New York	Prohibited with exceptions.[37]
North Carolina	Illegal.[38]
North Dakota	Prohibited with exceptions.[39]
Ohio	Prohibited with exceptions.[40]
Oklahoma	Prohibited with exceptions.[41]
Oregon	Prohibited with exceptions.[42]
Pennsylvania	Illegal.[43]
Rhode Island	Illegal.[44]
South Carolina	Legal but prohibited in certain areas.[45]
South Dakota	Prohibited with exceptions.[46]
Tennessee	Prohibited with exceptions.[47]
Texas	Illegal.[48]
Utah	Illegal.[49]
Vermont	Illegal.[50]
Virginia	Illegal.[51]
Washington	Illegal.[52]
West Virginia	Permitted for certain species.[53]
Wisconsin	Illegal.[54]
Wyoming	Illegal.[55]

See also

• Flossing

References

1. "Snagged". Fishbio. Retrieved July 27, 2015.
2. "Paddlefish - Questions and Answers". North Dakota Game and Fish Department. 2012. Retrieved July 27, 2015.
3. Merwin, John (June 1994), "The Sportsman's Dollar, Part 3", Field & Stream (New York, NY) 99 (2), pp. 64–65, retrieved July 27, 2015
4. Waldman, John (2004). "Snagging or Snatching: Subtle It's Not". 100 Weird Ways to Catch Fish. Stackpole Books. p. 152. Retrieved July 27, 2015.
5. "Alabama Fishing Limits and General Regulations". Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. Retrieved 1 September 2010.
6. "Sport Fish Regulations". Alaska Department of Fish and Game. Retrieved 1 September 2010.
7. "Fishing Glossary". Arizona Game and Fish Department. Retrieved 1 September 2010.
8. "Technique-Specific Fishing Regulations". Arkansas Game & Fish Commission. Retrieved 1 September 2010.
9. "Freshwater Sport Fishing Regulations". California Department of Fish and Game. Retrieved 1 September 2010.
10. "Colorado Wildlife Regulations Ch 01" (PDF). Colorado Division of Wildlife. Retrieved 1 September 2010.
11. "DEP: Inland Sport Fishing Definitions". Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. Retrieved 1 September 2010.
12. "Gamefish and General Freshwater Fishing Restrictions". Delaware Division if Fish & Wildlife. Retrieved 1 September 2010.
13. "Regulated Fishing Activities". District Department of the Environment. Retrieved 29 May 2015.
14. "Fish and Wildlife Research Institute". Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Retrieved 23 June 2012.
15. "Freshwater and Trout Fishing Methods". Georgia Department of Natural Resources Wildlife Resources Division. Retrieved 1 September 2010.
16. "Fishing - Common Questions". Hawaii Division of Aquatic Resources. Retrieved 1 September 2010.
17. "General Fishing Season Information" (PDF). Idaho Department of Fish and Game. Retrieved 23 June 2012.
18. Archived July 19, 2011 at the Wayback Machine
19. Archived September 1, 2010 at the Wayback Machine
20. Archived May 27, 2010 at the Wayback Machine
21. "Paddlefish Snagging / Fishing Regulations / Fishing / KDWPT - KDWPT". Kdwp.state.ks.us. Retrieved 2015-07-27.
22. Archived November 4, 2010 at the Wayback Machine
23. "Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries". Wlf.louisiana.gov. Retrieved 2015-07-27.
24. "Laws & Rules: Maine IF&W" (PDF). Maine.gov. Retrieved 2015-07-27.
26. Archived August 10, 2010 at the Wayback Machine
27. Archived January 20, 2010 at the Wayback Machine
28. "Minnesota Fishing Regulations 2010" (PDF). Files.dnr.state.mn.us. Retrieved 2015-07-28.
29. Archived June 4, 2011 at the Wayback Machine
30. "General Fishing Methods | Missouri Department of Conservation". Mdc.mo.gov. Retrieved 2015-07-27.
31. "FWP Administrative Regions with Fishing Districts in Color" (PDF). Fwpiis.mt.gov. Retrieved 2015-07-28.
32. "2015 : Information for Regulations" (PDF). Outdoornebraska.ne.gov. Retrieved 2015-07-28.
33. Archived July 20, 2011 at the Wayback Machine
34. Archived December 6, 2006 at the Wayback Machine
35. "License Information" (PDF). State.nj.us. Retrieved 2015-07-28.
36. Archived July 28, 2010 at the Wayback Machine
37. "2015-2016 New York Freshwater Fishing Regulations – The Official New York Department of Environmental Conservation Freshwater Fishing Guide | New York Freshwater Fishing Guide | eRegulations.com". Pub.jfgriffin.com. Retrieved 2015-07-27.
38. Archived August 21, 2010 at the Wayback Machine
39. Archived May 28, 2010 at the Wayback Machine
40. "ODNR Division of Wildlife - Hunting, Fishing, Trapping, Birding, Wildlife Viewing & Research in Ohio". Ohiodnr.com. Retrieved 2015-07-27.
41. Archived January 3, 2010 at the Wayback Machine
42. Archived December 4, 2010 at the Wayback Machine
43. Archived March 27, 2010 at the Wayback Machine
44. Archived July 14, 2010 at the Wayback Machine
45. "Unlawful Actions & Penalties Associated with Title 50 Chapter 13 Protection of Fish". South Carolina Department of Natural Resources. Retrieved 24 April 2014.
46. "South Dakota 2011 Fishing Handbook" (PDF). Gfp.sd.gov. Retrieved 2015-07-28.
47. "Tennessee Fishing guide 2015-2016" (PDF). State.tn.us. Retrieved 2015-07-28.
48. Archived July 25, 2010 at the Wayback Machine
49. Archived August 16, 2010 at the Wayback Machine
50. "2015 Vermont Hunting, Fishing and Trapping Guide – The Official Vermont Fish and Wildlife Regulations Guide | Vermont Fish and Wildlife Regulations | eRegulations.com". Pub.jfgriffin.com. Retrieved 2015-07-27.
51. "Virginia Marine Resources Commission : Recreational Fishing Regulations for Virginia's Marine Waters" (PDF). Mrc.state.va.us. Retrieved 2015-07-28.
52. "Washington State 2010-2011 Sportfishing Rules Pamphlet" (PDF). Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. Retrieved 21 March 2011.
53. "Regulations - Other Methods of Fishing" (PDF). Wvdnr.org. Retrieved 2015-07-28.
54. Archived April 21, 2010 at the Wayback Machine
55. "Wyoming Game & Fish Department" (PDF). Gf.state.wy.us. Retrieved 2015-07-27.