Sea Fishing Hooks

Member Joined: Mar 12, 2006 Posts: 15 Location: Margate

What are the advantages of differnt sized hooks? I currently have no.1 hooks, and was just wondering what sort of things would i catch if i got a bigger hook.

Would i be catching bigger fish, but less fish overall? If so, I think i'd just stick with the no.1 hook as any fish is great to reel in for me big grin

Posted: Sat Mar 18, 2006 7:06 pm

hi mate
peronally i would say match your hook size to bait and quarry.
theres no point in putting a whole peeler on a size 1, then bait elastic the whole lot to realise youve masked the hook point or the same thought goes fo a small lug on a size 4/0!, granted large bass and large fish alike take size 1s and 2s but youve more chance of a decent hook hold with the right hook size, dabs,flounders, tiddler bashing alike size 1s and 2s will do but saying that ive caught the smallest whiting in the world while fishing with a whole side of mackeral on a size 4/0 pennel!! i couldnt believe it!!
hope this helps mate
phil

Member Joined: Mar 12, 2006 Posts: 15 Location: Margate

Thanks! It did! big grin

Occasional Joined: Dec 02, 2005 Posts: 144

i would also say that you need to use the correct pattern of hook to the type of bait you're using too.

if you're going to be using crab baits then you should use crab hooks. if you're using worm baits then use a long shanked pattern (these make it easier to unhook fish).

i vary rarely use short shank hooks as they make it harder to unhook the fish without any real gains.

Posted: Tue Mar 21, 2006 1:36 pm

I've caught a 5 inch rockling on a 4/0 viking pennel. It's easy to catch small fish on bigger hooks (unless you're targeting real babies for some reason) but very hard to catch a big fish on a small hook - especially if you have to lift it up as most small hooks could either bend or snap under the weight of a fish as small as 3 or 4lbs. To be safe, a 3/0 will catch and lift most fish. Aberdeens are much thinner hooks and will catch smaller fish easier. Hope this babbling helps.

Member Joined: Feb 26, 2006 Posts: 9

i usually fish with size 4s - 2s ( i fish a lot of matches) with a small bait u can catch anything big, small, whatever, a small bait allows the fish just to swim up to it and swallow it with-out thinking as long as the hook point is clear he's yours if its a big fish just take your time landing it if ur up a wall etc use a drop net ! in the surf just select a wave and guide it in, fish are loking for food so a mall bait will just be scoffed down a large bait can sometimes be mouthed and left or ripped to bits by small fish. the only time i use bigger hooks (2/0-3/0) is when pleasure fishing using big crab baits for cod/bass