
A
fish hook is a device for catching fish either by impaling them
in the mouth or, more rarely, by snagging the body of the fish.
Fish hooks have been employed for centuries by fisherman to catch
fresh and saltwater fish. In 2005, the fish hook was chosen by Forbes
as one of the top twenty tools in the history of man.[1] Fish hooks
are normally attached to some form of line or lure device which
connects the caught fish to the fisherman. There is an enormous
variety of fish hooks in the world of fishing. Sizes, designs, shapes
and materials are all variable depending on the intended purpose
of the fish hook. Fish hooks are manufactured for a range of purposes
from general fishing to extremely limited and specialized applications.
Fish hooks are designed to hold various types of artificial, processed,
dead or live baits (Bait fishing); to act as the foundation for
artificial representations of fish prey (Fly fishing); or to be
attached to or integrated into other devices that represent fish
prey (Lure fishing).