Shell encasing sinker breaks apart when triggered upon flyback
Under tension, fishing lines can break or recoil, and weights and swivels can then fly back at fishermen creating serious safety risks. A research team at the University of Hawaii’s Department of Mechanical Engineering designed a breakaway sinker for the long line fishing industry. Flyback events cause safety hazards for fishing crews, such as when a hook fails or a fishing line breaks, converting sinkers and rigs into high-speed projectiles. Existing technologies are inadequate when the crimps remain on the line after the line cuts, preventing the removal of the weight.
The breakaway sinker system consists of a fishing weight encased in a shell designed to break apart when triggered in a flyback event, causing the lead to fall off the line and dramatically reduce the energy of impact. The configuration mitigates the impact force and impact impulse of the flyback event. In preliminary testing, the breakaway weight shows a 99% reduction in impact energy in comparison to a standard commercial gear configuration for long line fishing. Prototypes have been developed and used in experimental tests.