Apparatus and method for baiting hooks of longline fishing gear

摘要

An apparatus and method for semi-automatically baiting the hooks of long-line used in commercial deep sea fishing includes a bait holding receptacle (9), and a slotted separator (12) positioned in or in association with the receptacle and extending substantially from end to end thereof, whereby ground-line (15) with leaders (16) periodically attached to the ground-line is passed behind the separator (12) such that a gangion portion of the leader extends through the slot in the separator (12) and the hook of the leader secures itself to a piece of bait held in the bait holding receptacle (9).