The jury is still out on using circle hooks for halibut. They can catch fish with bait, but how many are missed is unknown. They can be very inefective with some artificials.

Kilo,
Would I somehow be less concerned about the resource if I was a bass fisherman? I don't really fit into that category by the way, maybe sea bass. This really has nothing to do with any inadequacies I might have. I have used barbless hooks everywhere they are required and if I have any deficiencies its getting them to bite, not keeping them on.

But I will tell you who does have a problem with fishing inadequacies, young kids. They do not have the skills to keep pressure on a fish at all times. Slack line=lost fish. Lost fish=lost kids. Lost kids=lost sport.

"PS "I was speaking to a charter who caught a ling off the coast that was living with one set of gills completely torn apart." Is that good?"

Good, bad, indifferent? The point is those fish survive more damage than any barbed hook will do.