Used 4/0 eagle claw hooks with live shad and the stripers I caught swallowed them to the gills. What should I use for easier catch and realease?

3/0 Lazer Sharp barbless hooks. Insert the point of the hook through the top of the mouth and out the middle of the nose.

I use circle hooks to hook them in the side of the jaw…

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JSouther, I vote for the Mustad Demon Perfect Circle Hook, size 2/0. It looks small, but it gets the job done. Mustad's product number is 39951NP-BN. If you are not accustomed to circle hooks, the golden rule is "don't set the hook". Just let the fish move with the bait and crank your reel's handle at a moderate cadence to allow the hook to slide into the L. or R. corner of the fish's mouth. The hook will "cam" around the bone structure and seal the deal.

The hook goes in one nostril and out the other of your shad bait. If you do it right, this is effortless. If you feel cartilage offering resistance, you're not in the nostrils.

Good luck,

Any hook is a good hook when it's in the water . I like a simple j hook. Through the mouth or upper back. Experiment & see what you like.

J hook # 2 or 3 and make sure it is red. In extremely clear water some anglers stain their egg sinkers green !

Mainly I use 3/0 to5/0 Mustard Demon perfect circle hooks.I have and still do use 2/0 to 4/0 kahle hooks for when the fish are less aggressive.I much prefer to use circle hooks.........I feel I can fish more passively get more hook ups with less gut hooks.

I've lost way to many using circle hooks. Kahle is my go to.
Circles when catfishing.

Circle hook is the way to go. Size of bait should determine hook.

I have been using 2/0 octopus J hooks and been happy. Not getting many gut hooked/fatally injured fish either and if the fish hits the bait its very likely to get hooked.