[Red Badger]

Bottom line (Pun intended):

FISH AIN'T STUPID...................

I have seen this behavior in Black Snapper and other species here on the Gulf Coast. They will 'inspect' the bait and leave it alone if it seems 'suspect'..............

[A Formerly Proud Canadian]

Remember, fish travel in schools, so they learn. (No ‘common core’ in fish schools, though the odd ‘alba core’.)

[JoeProBono]

[tumblindice]

[NorthMountain]

Nice to see scientific confirmation of what many anglers (self included) have long suspected.

Fish aren’t as dumb as they look, and we’re essentially creating a smarter breed of fish.

[freedomlover]

That being said during certain times of the year in GA a freshwater bream will hit a naked hook. They can get frantic.

[Political Junkie Too]

-PJ

[SunTzuWu]

East coast grouper are clever like this. I used to be a commercial fisherman and it always astounded me how narrow the thinking of the university and fisheries types were.

Commercial fisherman spend years learning their trade as a result they know the habits of fish and are generally successful in their pursuit. University and fisheries types will go out a couple of times a year to "gather data" and conclude that their inability to catch fish means that the fish aren't there. They then go home and proclaim tighter restrictions on the entire industry.

I'm glad I got out when I did.

[JRios1968]

Clever fish? You mean a Talking Dolphin?

[JimRed]

The consequence is the impression that there are less fewer fish in the sea, which does not necessarily agree with underwater reality.

Grammar police.