Best Circle Hook for Blue Marlin

[Deep C]

Mustad has a "Z" series hook in 10-11- and 12/0 that from what I've seen should go great with a horse. It has a really wide gap and may even work with combos. The gap in fact is a touch bigger than the eagle claw 18/0 and close to the 20/0. I'll be playing with them later this and next week back over in the islands. The one problem with them though is that the guage of the wire is kind of light and I cant see em being run on more than say 50w gear.
The Eagle claw 20/0 seems to be the go to for macks on the heavier gear... Either bridled, swimming or just tacked to the forehead...

[SeaMent]

Deep, I'm very curious to see how you make out with the horse rigs, both naked and as combos if that's is what you are doing. Aren't you fishin the Bacardi in a few weeks out of Lucaya ?

[Deep C]

Yep the Bacardi... Leaving Thursday (weather permitting) two days scouting new turf. One day practicing on old ground. Four days fishing in the tournament and will probably fish for fun on the one lay day...

Man! I knew it was a big one but was floored to see calcutta costs above OCWMO and even the MA500... Kind of strange to run it from Lucaya being that its about 70 miles to either of two really good spots. Oh well gonna treat it like a canyon deal except shorter days...

Have the one bite from last month along with actually catching skippies to make me think I'm real close to getting this right. Found the one hook that seems to go well with the DK. I'm thinking that "Z" hook might breath some life into the teardrop and outside chance that it might even work with iland. I'm sure it would be a strong candidate for naked horse... Yes i will be dragging these hooks over there... And yes I will report if they worked... If I don't pass out from anxiety over the tournament investment first...

[pitch bait]

Back to the Blues on Horses, Pitch what's the answer ??

For a naked horse I think Im going to use the 10/0 Owner or 12/0. I think that hook is the heavyest wired hook. If Im going to be using Islander in front might go to 12/0 or bigger. These big hooks I feel are going to be a challenge to rig and get perfect. I have a feeling that the heavy hook if rigged at the end of the bill in the monel loop is going to cause too much weight forward on the bait and it is going to tumble with the front of the bait being so heavy. I have a feeling this is going to take some tweeking. I have seen another rig where the bend of the hook rides up the front of the ballyhoo and te shank is wired to the bill. I have a feeling this could be a better application. Im going to be doing some testing soon.

[SeaMent]

Deep, I'm sure you know that ground very well, just a little food for thought, last year I was there fun fishin the week of the tourny, the fleet was runnin to the obvious 2 spots you speak of , the wind was honkin we went out in front of Zanadu and caught a Blue One in 400' of water and a nice 55lb. Hoo plus a couple of Mahi that would have made a couple $$ in the meat catagory. we also ran over to Issacs in 900-1200' and broke a Blue One off and caught a few sails there as well. I'm sure you have probably fished the NW Channel on the Issacs side, I tell you when the wind goes the wrong way on ya that's a nice little alternative to the 75 mile hump to the other spots and there have always been fish there. Good Luck!!

[Deep C]

For a naked horse I think Im going to use the 10/0 Owner or 12/0. I think that hook is the heavyest wired hook. If Im going to be using Islander in front might go to 12/0 or bigger. These big hooks I feel are going to be a challenge to rig and get perfect. I have a feeling that the heavy hook if rigged at the end of the bill in the monel loop is going to cause too much weight forward on the bait and it is going to tumble with the front of the bait being so heavy. I have a feeling this is going to take some tweeking. I have seen another rig where the bend of the hook rides up the front of the ballyhoo and te shank is wired to the bill. I have a feeling this could be a better application. Im going to be doing some testing soon.

Pitch
The Owner.... Is it their SSW? The 9/0 and 10/0 is what worked for the DK but I havn't been able to find it bigger. Do you have a source for 12/0 in that model? If so that could be a candidate for the teardrop as well as at least regular Ilandr models... And you may not have to rig in front...

[pitch bait]

Im trying to find thr package with more hookd this one that I hve could be a Gamawhat ever they are or could be an Eagle Claw. I believe I got them at Chuck and MArys?

[pitch bait]

Here is the link to a nice 13/0 hook. I also have Mustad 39950BL or 39960D10/0 and 11/0, Frenzy 11/0(have nver used them I bought them last year in Florida I think) These are al nice hoks Deep Im sure you can find one. With the tear drop I would like the widest gap hook I could find. If not I would Put the hook further in rfont of the lure. Or are you not rigging it that way?

http://www.gofishin.com/?cart_id=191...details=143739

[Deep C]

That hook looks interesting... The 'Z" hook by mustad that has the super big gap that I like is the 39948Z... The 10/0-11/0-and 12/0 seem to me to be the one thats going to work best.
The front rigging of the teardrop was a total bust in all our attempts. My old "physics" arguement came into play there. The rig I'm dialing in now involves mounting the hook pretty high on the bait and angled up even further to get almost the whole gap clear of that head... Was able to get it right with my DK and think a little fine tune will seat it with Tear Drop... Man would I love to have that back in the spread...

[pitch bait]

Deep do you think if the tear drop was a soft head it would work better? I know the soft head thing was bad because the fish can grab the head and grip it, where the hard head slides out and the hook seats.