Releasable sinkers for marine applications are described, each of which utilizes rapidly disintegrating water soluble material as an attachment means or as part of an attachment assembly for securing a weight to fishing line. Depending on the configuration of the rapidly disintegrating water soluble material, after exposing the sinker to water, for example, by casting a line into the water or by returning a caught fish back into the water, the rapidly disintegrating water soluble material will dissolve, thereby releasing the sinker from the fishing line. The weighted portion of the sinker, which provides the majority of sinker weight, may be preferably formed from an organic material that will also eventually dissolve in water, although at a much slower rate than the rapidly disintegrating water soluble material.
