The NMFS has announced that it will suspend existing regulations that require Atlantic billfish tournament participants who are fishing from HMS permitted vessels and using natural bait or natural bait/lure combinations to use non-offset circle hooks.

The suspension of the circle-hook rule will begin on May 11, 2007 and be effective until December 31, 2007. The rule will be reinstated starting in 2008.

According to the NMFS, this action is intended to increase overall survival of billfish species by giving captains time to adapt to circle-hook fishing techniques, which should encourage long-term compliance with the new regulations.

You can read the official NMFS notice here in PDF form.