[Mackerel Masher]

When fishing for bottom dwellers I have a spare set-up ready go. Pretty much a single hook rockcod rig with the point on the hook cut off and rounded. I lip the fish with the hook pressed in his mouth and then put the reel in freespool with the other hand. The large sinker (1-2lb) on the end of the rig just tows the little guy back down. No jerking or popping a barbless hook out of the guy.

I have a vent on the boat too and have used it with about a 65% success rate. It sucks to see the fish swimming down only to have him pop back up again.

The sinker/hook method has been 100%.