hook size

[PHIL]

Hi. What size and type of hook and weight should i be using for stripers fishing from the coast. I'm out of point pleasant. Thank you.

[mboy]

Hook size is more related to the size of the biat then it is to the actual fish in most cases.

It depends on how you are fishing for the bass. and what type of hook.
If livelining a 1+lb 15" bunker and using a true circle hook, you will need at least a 9/0 or 10/0. I lost a LOT of fish 2 seasons back using 7/0 true circles with adult bunker or heads and that was directly attributed to using too small a hook in a HUGE bait.

Same bait but using Octopus circly, you could get away with 7/0-8/0.

Clamming you could use a 6/0-7/0 circle or a 5/0 octopus.

Traditionally, most people use a 2/0 or 3/0 for fluke.

End of last season I started using (and will only be using from now on) 5/0 hooks for fluke.  This will prevent some deep hooking of smaller fish (altho def still possible).  NO problem hooking 15" fluke with a 5/0 last season, so I am going to stick with AT least that size in an octupus this year.

[ped579]

When you mean from the coast you are talking form the beach out 3 miles?  If so I guess it does not make to much of a difference but I use any where from a 3/0 circle hook to up to an 8/0 corcke depending on the type of bait.  If I use clams I will probably use a 6/0 or smaller and if I am bunker chunking I will bump up to an 8/0.  As far as weight anything that will keep you pretty much in one spot if you are dead sticking off the beach.

if you are going to hold your rod go a little lighter and allow the bait to move around a little.  If you are live lining bunker no weight is needed.  Just cast out and let it swim free and hold on. 

Good Luck

Happy Catching

Paul

[IrishAyes]

 

Except, when livelining bunker, if you want a bigger fish, put on enough weight to get you to the bottom.   That's where the big, lazy stripers usually hang out waiting for a morsel of food to fall from above.

[Luna Sea 5]

def. too many factors.

[mboy]

Except, when livelining bunker, if you want a bigger fish, put on enough weight to get you to the bottom.   That's where the big, lazy stripers usually hang out waiting for a morsel of food to fall from above.

Yup, I always use a fishfinder and use enough to get me to bottom and hold bottom for most part when livelining bunker or using chunks (head).
Clams too for that matter.

[Capt Craig]

Size of the hook is depends on the size of the bait. Not the size of the fish you are intending to catch.

When fishing down on the rips off Cape May and using eels or spot as bait I use a 5/0 Owner lite wire circle hook. Over the years we have caught Bass in the 20 to 30lb class with no problem.

In the spring while fishing for Bass or Black Drum in the Delaware Bay where we are using large surf clams as bait I use a 9/0 circle hook. I use the same size hook 9/0 in the fall when fishing for Bass and chunking bunker up in the Delaware Bay. In these two cases the baits are large. On these larger hooks we have caught Bass from shorts to big 30 and 40 pounders.

Its the size of the bait, not the size of the intended catch.

[ped579]

Good point Capt. Craig,

I guess a lot of us do follow that premise but never thought of it before.  Its true at least for me as I never thought of it before.  I usually gauge hook size by the size of the bait and how the hook relates to it instead of the size of the fish being caught.

Todays hooks are all strong enough to land almost any size fish being caught in our waters.  So why go overboard in the size category.  All my hooks now are circle hooks so the hookup rate has gone up a great deal.  The only time I use a J hook is on my teaser lures, which have a slight offset to them.

Like Capt. Craig said try to gauge your hook size by the size of the bait and I guarantee your catch rate will go up.

Thanks for the reality check.  At least for me.

Happy Catching

Paul

[mboy]

I thought that's what I said too in my post 

[ped579]

Sorry mboy your right...

[mboy]

Just bustin' your chops

[ped579]