Has anyone tried fishing for them with circle hooks? Is it better or worse?
Has anyone tried fishing for them with circle hooks? Is it better or worse?
Any imput out there
All I use. buy extra strong ones though
I just picked up some Owner hooks They're razor sharp and heavy gauge. Do you have a better hook up ratio with circle hooks? Because with regular hooks if your slow on the draw it can be a long day. I don't have a problem with regular hooks, but for some of the inexpierenced taug fishers and some of the elderly folks we bring out it can be tough.
My son has a pet taug in a 500 gal. fish tank that he has had for 2 years. Watching him eat blue crabs for the last 2 years I see no advantage for a circle hook. A small but strong and sharp hook is a must.
A lot of guys I fish with are circle hoom fishermen and hate to use anything else, but once its time for tog, the old virginia's and octopus hooks come back out. Circles are tough because you are waiting for a fish to come tight on itself, doing so allows it to go back into the rocks making it harder to land. Also most blackfish will feel the hook before they swallow it so it will never pass the crushers and will have less meat to grab typically. I know some guys who have had ok luck with them but most who tried went back to j hooks. I really do not hook many if any blackfish anywhere but the lip so I see no need to change to a circle hook. Although I've switched to circles for a lot of fishing, it would take a lot for me to even consider it on a tog. If your having trouble setting the hook on a virginia, try a octopus hook, gamakatsu and owner make super sharp ones that set well and give you better hook up ratios. I use a 1/0-3/0 depending on bait and fish size.
I HAVE BEEN USING MUSTAD #4011E SIZE 1/0 THROUGH 3/0 HOOKS PROBABLY FOR THE LAST 20 YEARS AND HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH THE HOOK UP RATIO TO THIS DAY.
I PERSONALLY HAVE NEVER SEEN A TAUG HOOKED IN ANYWHERE IN HIS/HER MOUTH BESIDES THE LIPS.......I PERSONALLY BELIEVE THE COMBINATION OF THEIR SENSITIVITY AND THEIR POWERFUL CHOMPERS REFUSE ENTRY ANY FURTHER.
GOOD LUCK WITH THE CIRCLES......I PERSONALLY THINK YOU ARE WASTING MONEY ON THIS PARTICULAR SPECIES,....BUT WHO KNOWS....TO EACH THERE OWN.....THERE IS NO MORTALITY THAT I CAN TELL ON THESE FISH WITH A HOOK BEING REMOVED FROM THE BOTTOM LIP THE TO LIP OR THE CORNER OF THE MOUTH IF THEY ARE EITHER TOO SMALL OR A FEMALE WHICH WE TRY TO RELEASE THE MOST OF ANYWAY......
I WORKED ON A COMMERCIAL SEA BASS BOAT WHEN I WAS YOUNGER AND I HAVE CHARTER FISHED FOR TAUG FOR A VERY LONG TIME AND I CAN TELL YOU THIS IS ONE OF THE TOUGHEST FISH I KNOW OF INSHORE OF 25 TO 30 MILES....NOT SURE THAT CIRCLES REALLY MAKE A DIFFERENCE HERE,.....BUT I COULD BE WRONG.
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