I've always used treble hooks under a popping cork when fishing the bays and surf. Recently I've started using circle hooks when throwing out bait on a surf rod. How do y'all determine which hook to use in various situations?

I use 14/0 circles when fishing for small sharks and redfish.

Tho some of my older rigs have J hooks in size 7 that I doubled as snapper setups.

However if you use 14/0 - 20/0 circles in the surf it would be wise to widen the gap just a little for a better hook up ratio.

If I plan to catch ocean trash fish I use a double drop with size 2-4 J hooks. Eels, cats, blowfish, rays, etc.


-Z-

can't go wrong with a kahle hook, gets them everytime

Do they make kahle hooks for saltwater? I purchased the Eagle Claw Lazer Kahle Hook Model L142 and after about 10min. they began to rust. I have plenty of them but I hardly ever use them since they rust very quickly.

The Eagle L142 is a nickle finish hook.. You could try Eagle L144SS which is stainless steel.


Otherwise you can try a Mustad 37160NPD.


*** Circle hooks do not require you to set the hook but that is not the case if you use J hooks. That is why I generally use circles over any other hook. It can be rather hard to watch 5 poles spread out over 50+ yards some times on the coast.

-Z-

I have tried circle hooks before but I usually catch alot of blue crabs. Maybe it's just the area that I fish in or it could be that they are an excellent hook, heck maybe even both.

i always use a mustad circle hook.
i think it is the croker hook

I get alot of bent hooks, I dont know who makes them or what they are made of, what should I be using. I fish mainly off piers for black drum, reds, trout, and croker. what should I use.

i have had no problem with the hooks i use i mentioned above

Trebles for freelining and popping. With circle hooks, the idea is to let the fish take the bait, start moving, and once it has swallowed, you set the hook, and it comes out it's throat, and will hook into one of the sides of it's mouth. A traditional j hook, you set it as soon as you feel a nudge. If your hooks are bending, you need to up them to a 2X. Barbed hooks are more secure - barbless are more of a challenge. Kahle hooks seem to work like a j-hook, but I've never really used them, so I don't know.

P.S. There's only the hook, your knot, and your line between you and the fish. Make sure your line, hook and knot are good quality.

That is great advice for anybody

is there a web site that shows what the hooks yall are talking about. 14/0 circle hook is just greek to me. sorry for the dumb question, but the "help" at walmart does not help. academy is too far and marburgers is too much $$$. I have just basic rigs, money is a major factor in what I get.

now it all comes together, thank you

I will be fishing with circle hooks for the first time next month. Do you or do you not have to set the hook? If not, do you just let them eat the bait and the fishes swimming action hooks the fish for you?