Circle Hooks

[triumphrick]

New laws require us to use circle hooks when targeting reef fish ( grouper, snapper ). So I load up on a few different sizes and used some for the first time today. No, I was not fishing the reefs, just some inshore fishing with live greenbacks. Unfortunately, got into some catfish but was surprised that they were all lip hooked and did not swallow down to the sinker, as they usually do. Un hooking a slimy writhing barbed salt water catfish requires caution, the barbs inflict a nasty cut. So, what has your experience been using circle hooks? They seem to work as advertised.

 

[gstanton]

Re: Circle Hooks

I catch and release - mostly - and have found circle hooks to get 'em right in the mouth, not swallowed. Has made release waaay easier with a needle nose plier and a twist.

BTY, I also crimp the barb down too. Lose some bait, but the catch slides right off.

 

[franco802]

Re: Circle Hooks

Circle hooks are the only hooks I use, never a problem and work great. Been useing them forever!!

 

[springhead]

Re: Circle Hooks

I always use them ,hook stripers in the lip
also
ill open up the circle hook a tad with the pliers,
works well for me

 

[CATransplant]

Re: Circle Hooks

They're not only for saltwater fishing, either. I use them anytime I'm using bait. Catfish, carp, whatever. They're always hooked in the lip...never in the throat.

They take a little getting used to, though, in the hook-setting process.

 

[triumphrick]

Re: Circle Hooks

They're not only for saltwater fishing, either. I use them anytime I'm using bait. Catfish, carp, whatever. They're always hooked in the lip...never in the throat.

They take a little getting used to, though, in the hook-setting process.

Yeah...you're right about the hook setting process, Kinda just lift the rodtip and crank, always keeping pressure on them and don't "bow down" too much. I sure am used to the old way and this takes a little gettin used to!

 

[cx380]

Re: Circle Hooks

Circle hooks are designed to hook the lip or the jaw. Even if the fish swallows the hook. When the fish pulls, the hook will go straight to the jaw.Using these hooks will cause a little bit more misses(when the fish bits the bait but dosen't hook up) however when you do hook up the hook will not come out due to a bad or shallow hook up. In Hawaii this is all we use for Ulua fishing( 12/0's - 20/0's! ) and it has been tried and true for many years.

 

[levittownnick]

Re: Circle Hooks

I have been using circle hooks for several years in the Long Island NY waters. I like that most fish are lip hooked even when the kids catch them. (I say kids because the often don't pay close attention and give the fish pleanty of time to swallow a J hook down to the tail.) I do beleive that fewer fish are caught with the circle hook as compared to the J hook because it's easier to steal the bait from the circle hook. I like that it's easier to remove the hook from the lip without harming the fish. When the fish swallow a hook and if it's a fish that I want to release, I cut the leader and hope the fish will survive.

 

[crw1957]

Re: Circle Hooks

I fished on a charter boat last year. We used circle hooks. They worked great. The mate had a tool which was a wooden 1'' dowel with a stiff wire hook at the end. When a fish was caught, he was able to hold the line with one hand and with the dowel, hook the circle hook, flip the fish over and the fish was de-hooked instantly. Keepers were flip right in the cooler and short fish were flipped over the side. He never touched the fish.