Patent ID: 7481018

Claim:
A baiting apparatus for attaching a hook to live bait without harming the bait, the bait being a fish, said apparatus comprising: a pair of arms, each of said arms having a first end and a second end, said first ends being spaced from each other, each of said first ends comprising terminating in a loop; a single hook coupler, each of said second ends of arms being attached to said hook coupler, said second ends being spaced away from each other and said first ends extending away from said hook coupler, said hook coupler having a distal end with respect to said arms, said distal end having an opening therethrough for attaching a hook, said first ends each extending away from said hook coupler and defining free ends; said hook coupler including a pair of rods, each of said second ends being attached to one of said rods, said rods joining together at an elongated medial member positioned between said rods and said distal end, said medial member having a longitudinal axis lying in a first plane, each of said arms lying in a second plane that extends through each of said first and second ends of said arms, said first plane being orientated parallel to and spaced from said second plane, wherein said medial member lies below the second plane when said arms are extended through the fish; wherein each of said first ends is extendable into each of a pair of gills of the fish and extendable outwardly of a mouth of the fish to position the hook coupler below and behind the gills of the fish; wherein a hook is attached to said distal end of said hook coupler; and wherein a fishing line is secured to each of said loops of said first ends.