Field of the invention

The invention provides a method and an apparatus for managing the trailing section of a jigging line or handline during pulling in and paying out of the handline from a fishing boat.

Background

Hand line fishing or handlining, is widely used today and is one of the oldest fishing techniques still used today. Handlining is based on a single fishing line, where one or more fishing lures or baited hooks are attached to the line and the line is jigged and jerked to mimic a living marine lifeform. At the end of the jigging line there is a sinker and above the sinker is a trailing section with a one or plurality of baited hooks.

Although handlining was done purely by hand before, the modern jigging technique uses a computer-controlled mechanic reel for jigging and reeling the trailing section in and out of the boat. The modern handlining reels are computerized and automatic as indicated above, with paying out and puling the line in and where the device senses when the sinker hits the bottom of the ocean. The fisherman can customize the jigging motion by setting the speed and frequency of the jigging motion as well as depth of fishing.

The trailing section, having a plurality of baited hooks is pulled on board the fishing boat when at least one fish has taken a bait on the line. As the hooked fish reaches the gunwale it is grabbed or hooked by the fisherman and unhooked from the bait and into a container next to the gunwale. The management of the trailing section once on board the boat is demanding and time consuming as the fisherman is not only dealing with the unhooking the fish, but also minding the baited trailing section being pulled in and paying the line out again.

Summary of the Invention

The present invention provides an apparatus and a method for managing a jigging line or handline during pulling in and paying out the trailing section. Furthermore, the device and method of the present invention provide a solution, where the fisherman does not have to handle the trailing section on board the boat. The device of the present invention comprises a computer-controlled handline reel and gallows or a frame linking the starboard and the port gunwale of the boat. The gallows have two vertical members extending upwards from each gunwale and a lateral member linking the two vertical members. The gallows further contain a number of rollers for leading the trailing section along the gallows. The device further comprises a stopper for stopping the reel as a fish has been pulled over the gunwale. By positioning the rollers on each upper corner of the gallows, by the stopper and the handline reel, the trailing section is led through the stopper, over the gallows and towards the reel, thereby keeping the trailing section untangled and free from handling and off the deck.

It is an object of the present invention to overcome or ameliorate the aforementioned drawbacks of the prior art and to provide an improved and/or alternative and/or additional method or device for handling the trailing section of a handline or jigging fishing device on board the boat. It is one preferred object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for handling the trailing section of a handline or jigging fishing device on board the boat during hauling in and paying out a handline from a reel using a gallows structure over the deck of the boat to hold and store the trailing section of the handline without the need of human management.

The advantage of the apparatus and the method of the present invention is that the device can facilitate the management of the trailing section of a handline from paying out to hauling in without the need of a fisher man to "man" handle the trailing section. This is obtained by a gallows structure and a handline reel, where the reel is positioned on the opposite gunwale to where the line is entering the ocean. Between the two opposite gunwale, a gallows structure is formed leading the handline and at last the trailing section up and over above the deck and down towards the reel. The gallows has a stopper on the hauling side so that when a hooked fish is hauled out of the ocean it is not dragged along the gallows, but as it hits the stopper the reel stops hauling in until the fish has been taken of the hook. Then the reel continues to haul in the line until it is fully hauled in. thereafter the reel lowers the line again into the ocean unless the hooks need to be attended to. This means that the trailing section is never placed on the deck and will therefore not get tangled there or to be moved or handled in any way by the fisher man.

The object(s) underlying the present invention is (are) particularly solved by the features defined in the independent claims. The dependent claims relate to preferred

embodiments of the present invention. Further additional and/or alternative aspects are discussed below.

Thus, at least one of the preferred aspect of the present invention is solved by an apparatus for managing the line of a handline fishing device on board a fishing vessel.

The apparatus comprises i) a handline reel for storing a handline with a trailing section, where the trailing section further comprising one or more baited hooks and a sinker below said trailing section to sink the tailing section, ii) gallows, where the gallows comprise at least two vertical portions extending upwards from opposite gunwales and at least one lateral portion linking the two vertical portions, iii) a number of rollers being positioned at different positions on the gallows, to guide the line along the gallows from one gunwale to the other gunwale during hauling and paying out the handline, and iv) a stopper for preventing a hooked fish to be pulled beyond the position of the stopper and for stopping hauling in motion of the handline reel.

Another aspect of the present invention is solved by a system for managing the line of a handline fishing device on board a fishing vessel. The system comprises: i) arranging gallows comprising at least two vertical portions extending upwards from opposite gunwales and at least one lateral portion connecting the two vertical portions, ii) providing a handline reel for storing a handline with a trailing section, wherein the trailing section and further comprising one or more baited hooks and a sinker below said trailing section to sink the tailing section, iii) arranging a plurality of rollers being positioned at different positions on the gallows, to guide the line along the gallows from one gunwale to the other during hauling and paying out the handline, and vi) providing a stopper for the gallows for preventing a hooked fish to be pulled beyond the position of the stopper and for stopping hauling in motion of the handline reel.

Another aspect of the present invention is solved by method for managing the line of a handline fishing device on board a fishing vessel. The method comprises the steps of: a) positioning a handline reel on or near a gunwale of a fishing boat, said handline reel storing a handline with a trailing section, said trailing section further comprising one or more baited hooks and a sinker below said trailing section to sink the tailing section,

b) hauling in and paying out the handline over gallows, said gallows comprising at least, two vertical members extending upwards from opposite gunwales and at least one lateral member linking the two vertical members, wherein the handline reel is positioned on an opposite side to where the hand line is lowered into the ocean, c) advancing the trailing section of the handline over the gallows by use of a plurality of rollers being positioned at different positions on the gallows, to guide the line along the gallows from one gunwale to the other during hauling and paying out the handline, and

d) using a stopper for preventing a hooked fish to be pulled beyond the position of the stopper and for stopping hauling in motion of the handline reel until the fish has been released from the hook. A further aspect of the present invention is solved by a method for managing the line of a handline fishing device on board a fishing vessel, the method using the apparatus disclosed herein comprising i) a handline reel for storing a handline with a trailing section and a sinker, where the tailing section has one or more hooks for placing bait, ii) gallows between opposite gunwales and over a deck of a fishing vessel with a plurality of rollers to guide the line along the gallows from one gunwale to the other during hauling and paying out the handline, and iv) a stopper for preventing a hooked fish to be pulled beyond the position of the stopper and for stopping hauling in motion of the handline reel.

A further aspect of the present invention is solved by a system for managing the line of a handline fishing device on board a fishing vessel. The system comprises: i) two or more gallows between opposite gunwales and over a deck of a fishing vessel with a plurality of rollers to guide a handline line along the gallows from one gunwale to the other during hauling and paying out the handline, ii) a handline reel for storing the handline with a trailing section and a sinker, where the tailing section has one or more hooks for placing bait, iii) and vi) a stopper for the gallows for preventing a hooked fish to be pulled beyond the position of the stopper and for stopping hauling in motion of the handline reel. The two or more gallows are arranged in parallel and spaced apart on the fishing vessel and the system further comprises computer monitored sensors associated with the handline reel for detecting for instance if a fish is hooked on the handline and or when the sinker hits the bottom of the lake or ocean where a remote control for each of the handline reels allows a fisherman to pay out and haul the handline from each handline reel remotely from a housing on the fishing vessel. This is efficient when the fisherman is searching for fish and scanning an area of water.

Description of the invention

The following definitions and embodiments relate to the method, the apparatus of the invention.

In the present context the terms "handline" or "jigging line" relate to a fishing method

In the present context the terms "ocean" or "lake" relate to where one or more fishing lures or baited hooks are attached to the line and the line is jigged and jerked to mimic a living marine lifeform. At the end of the jigging line there is a sinker and above the sinker is a trailing section with a one or plurality of baited hooks. In the present context the term "trailing section" refers to the fishing and sinking portion of the handline. A sinker is placed at the end of the trailing section and above the sinker one or more hooks are attached where the hooks are covered or hidden with a bait, organic or artificial.

In the present context the term "gallows" or "frame" refers to a structure placed over the deck of the boat/vessel to form a high raised "bridge" to hold and guide the trailing section in a single line over the deck without getting tangled. The gallows are made from at least bars or poles extending upwards from the gunwale or deck on each side of the boat and bars or poles connecting the at least two bars or poles to form a continuous guiding structure for the trailing section as it is pulled up from the ocean and over the deck.

In the present context the terms "reel", "handline reel" or "means for storing and hauling in and paying out a handline fishing line" refers to a mechanical and/or computer controlled reel for hauling in and paying out a handline, such as, but not limited to DNG type of handline reels.

In an embodiment of the present invention the apparatus further comprises a guiding member or for keeping the handline away from the gunwale of the boat during hauling in and paying out the trailing section.

In an embodiment of the present invention the apparatus is mounted on the opposite gunwales of the boat and wherein the handline reel is mounted on the gunwale opposite the side where the handline is lowered into the ocean.

In an embodiment of the present invention the gallows comprise two parallel two vertical portions and at least one lateral portion linking the two vertical portions, and wherein the position of each roller on said gallows is arranged to be positioned between the comprise two parallel two vertical portions.

In an embodiment of the present invention the rollers are attached to the gallows by attachment means on an axis, wherein said attachment means are arranged to guide the handline away from the vertical portion of the gallows on the handline reel side and over the highest point of the lateral portion.

In an embodiment of the present invention the apparatus further comprises a collecting box below the stopper to collect fish being unhooked from the baited hooks. In an embodiment of the present invention the gallows link the starboard and the port gunwale of the boat, and wherein the clearance height of the gallows is above the size of a fisher man.

In an embodiment of the present invention two or more gallows are arranged in parallel and spaced apart on the fishing vessel.

In an embodiment of the present invention the two or more parallel arranged gallows are connected by a at least one longitudinal portion in the uppermost part of the vertical portions.

In an embodiment of the present invention the lateral portions are arranged at the front and the aft end of the longitudinal portion along each gunwale of the fishing vessel forming a frame between the or more gallows.

In an embodiment of the present invention the number of gallows is three or more, space is defined between two gallows for allowing vertical lifting of tubs on and off the deck.

In an embodiment of the present invention the system further comprises sensors associated with the handline reel for detecting one or more of i) if a fish is hooked on the handline, ii) when the sinker hits the bottom of the lake or ocean.

In an embodiment of the present invention the system further comprises a computer for monitoring sensors.

In an embodiment of the present invention the system further comprises a remote control connection for each of the handline reels.

In an embodiment of the present invention paying out and hauling handline from each handline reel can be remotely controlled from a housing on the fishing vessel.

In an embodiment of the present invention the method using the apparatus of the present invention

In an embodiment of the present invention the trailing section of the handline is guided through the stopper, along the gallows and towards the reel. This prevents the handline and the trailing section to become tangled on the deck after hauling. Description of Drawings

The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given hereinafter and the accompanying drawings which are given by way of illustration only, and thus, are not limitative of the present invention, and wherein :

FIG. 1 is a schematic rear view drawing of a boat and devices and a system according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic side view drawing of devices and a system according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a system with a plurality of connected gallows on a boat.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view, different from Fig. 3, of a system with a plurality of connected gallows on a boat.

Figure 1 shows the apparatus of the present invention. The figure is a drawing showing a rear view of a fishing boat and the apparatus mounted on the boat. The system shown in Fig. 1 handles the trailing section of a handline fishing device where a computer controlled handline reel 1 is mounted on the gunwale opposite where the handline 2 is lowered into the ocean. Gallows or a frame 3, linking the starboard and the port gunwale of the boat, such that the gallows are made from two vertical members 3a extending upwards from each gunwale and a lateral member 3b linking the two vertical members 3a. A number of rollers 4 are positioned at the corner of the gallows and behind the stopper 5 in order to lead the trailing section along the gallows, keeping it straight and off the deck. A guiding roller 6 or bumper is used to keep the handline away from the gunwale of the boat 7.

In Fig.2 a side view of a boat is shown with 3 gallows arranged along the deck of the boat to handle three handline devices. Each gallows have two vertical members 3a extending upwards from each gunwale and rollers 4 are positioned between the two vertical members 3a by fastening means.

In Fig.3 a system is shown where three gallows are arranged in parallel and spaced apart on the fishing vessel and the gallows are connected by a one longitudinal portion 3c over each gunwale in the uppermost part of the vertical portions 3a. The lateral portions 3b are arranged at the front and the aft end of the longitudinal portion 3c along each gunwale of the fishing vessel forming a frame between the or more gallows. This drawing also shows how a space 11 is defined between two gallows for allowing vertical lifting of tubs on and off the deck. In Fig. 4 the guiding member 6 or for keeping the handline away from the gunwale 10 of the boat 7 during hauling in and paying out the trailing section.

As used herein, including in the claims, singular forms of terms are to be construed as also including the plural form and vice versa, unless the context indicates otherwise.

Thus, it should be noted that as used herein, the singular forms "a," "an," and "the" include plural references unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

Throughout the description and claims, the terms "comprise", "including", "having", and "contain" and their variations should be understood as meaning "including but not limited to", and are not intended to exclude other components.

The present invention also covers the exact terms, features, values and ranges etc. in case these terms, features, values and ranges etc. are used in conjunction with terms such as about, around, generally, substantially, essentially, at least etc. (i.e., "about 3" shall also cover exactly 3 or "substantially constant" shall also cover exactly constant).

The term "at least one" should be understood as meaning "one or more", and therefore includes both embodiments that include one or multiple components. Furthermore, dependent claims that refer to independent claims that describe features with "at least one" have the same meaning, both when the feature is referred to as "the" and "the at least one".

It will be appreciated that variations to the foregoing embodiments of the invention can be made while still falling within the scope of the invention can be made while still falling within scope of the invention. Features disclosed in the specification, unless stated otherwise, can be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose. Thus, unless stated otherwise, each feature disclosed represents one example of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.

Use of exemplary language, such as "for instance", "such as", "for example" and the like, is merely intended to better illustrate the invention and does not indicate a limitation on the scope of the invention unless so claimed. Any steps described in the specification may be performed in any order or simultaneously, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

All of the features and/or steps disclosed in the specification can be combined in any combination, except for combinations where at least some of the features and/or steps are mutually exclusive. In particular, preferred features of the invention are applicable to all aspects of the invention and may be used in any combination.