Let's talk hooks!

[ped579]

That is so true I have switched over to single hooks a while ago and have found my casts are much longer as the lure runs truer.

Just make sure when you switch over to sharpen all hooks for better and easier penetration.

Boy I can't wait till March 1st to try the back waters of IBSP.  I think this year is going to be one of the best.  My daughter is already thinking of ways to go out fishing and working around her work before college starts.

I am lookin g forward to the company.

Paul

[Hunter 2]

Cirle hooks make hooking big baits difficult, especially nose-hooking big fatback bunker.  I generally prefer to go with big, red hooks in like a 7/0 or 8/0 size.  Baitholders  can be nice but they restrict the hook to various limited uses like clamming and chunking.  For livelining, my favorite bass strategy, no baitholders is better.  Double offset is nice.

On every lure i use fir bluefish, i replace trebles with single hooks.  It makes everything much easire and safer.

For fluke, i like 4/0 or 5/0 sickle hooks.  they make the bait run better underwater.

What type of hooks do you use when you remove the treble hooks on your lures when bluefishing

[adesai73]

Thank you, everyone, for all the information.  As always, you guys come through in the clutch.

Paul, I'd love to get out on 3/1, but Kean Univ. is having their grad school open house on that day.  I've shared with you how much I "love" my job, so I think going to the open house is more pressing.  Can't well complain about things if you're not willing to do the work to make changes and better the situation, ya know?

I'm probably preaching to the choir, aren't I? 

[ped579]

I hear ya my friend.  It is just the start of the season, plenty of time for R&R later in the summer. 

Good luck on your endeavors.  I do not blame you one bit.  Can you say recidivism rate??? bngh bngh

Paul

[adesai73]

Can you say recidivism rate??? bngh bngh

Paul

Blood.  Pressure.  Rising...

Thank God there are still a few cases I get where the kid and family are really wanting to get help and work towards solving their problems.  It's these people that make my work any kind of rewarding at all. 

[ped579]

Diamonds in the Rough...

[shadyvito]

I actually tied a couple of clousers with circle hooks.  I caught a Lrg. Mouth Bass with it and I got a perfect hook set right in the corner of the  mouth. They aren't the best for tying flies so I hardly ever use them.

[ped579]

Sorry Hunter,

You can use any hook that is close to the size of the treble hook.  Plus on some of my plugs I remove the belly hook if I am targeting blues.  Remember blues will always go for the tail section first.  I have not had any problem with bite offs.  I am a true believer that it is the knot and not the fish that is breaking the line.

There is a tremendous torque put on that knot and if you have a nick or scratch or a weak knot for that matter, it will break in a heart beat.

Happy Catching

Paul

[Hunter 2]

  thanks for the info

[eagleyankfan]

In-line circles are Ok but I find of the surf and with newbie anglers the offset works better.  I seem to get more hook ups. 

In-line circle hooks seem to work best for offshore large bill fish.  I know they will work on other species but I have found that the offset still work better for me.

Paul

With circle hooks, you still get gut hooks.  In-line circles, you get the least gut hooks(least hook ups too).  Off-set, you get less gut hook ups than J-hooks, but more than in-line.

That's from what I read.  I get more fish on offests too.

I prefer the offets too.  Even if I can find an offset J-hook, I'd prefer that over a strait J.

[ped579]

I agree.  I use offset J hooks on all my teasers and have had good success.  I usually buy then in bags of 100 at the flea markets and I like the gold plated ones best, in a 2/0 or 3/0 size.

Paul

[Skolmann]

I like using circles (various sizes depending on bait size) for bunker chunks & live lining.

For clamming I perfer baitholders (6/0s) as I feel they hold the clam on better (although I have used circles in the past with clams & had good success).

For fluking it depends on where and what technique I'm using. If I'm using light spinning tackle & fishing shallow water with just a single spearing for bait then it's a #1 or 1/0 hook Octopus. If I'm fluking in the bay or river then it's a 2/0 or 3/0 Octopus. Ocean fluking or using live peanuts/snappers it's a 4/0 Octopus.

I'm a big fan of Gamakatsu hooks.

[Capt Craig]

I use Owner or Gamakatsu 5/0 circle hooks when using live eels or spot on the rips. Up in the Del. Bay in the spring using surf clam for bait while Drum and Striper fishing. I use 9/0 Gamakatsu circle hook. In the fall chunking bunker I also use a 9/0 gamakatsu circle hook. For bottom fishing I use a 2/0 or 3/0 Kahle style hook. With teasers or plain. They work well.

[shucker]

Gammi octopus always- 3/0-4/0=tog and sea bass ,4/0-5/0=fluke,weaks,6/0-10/0 bass and blues