Circle Hook size for blue marlin

[mac86]

Hi,

I consider myself pretty new to marlin fishing.
Lately we've been having some luck with sailfish using natural bait and we want to target marlin now, specifically blue marlin.

What size hook should I use?
For the sailfish rigs we use 7/0 circle hooks.

What do you guys recommend? 12/0? Or anything else?

Thanks!

Mac

[Squidnation]

where are you fishing and what size are your typical blue marlin

[thums up]

I really depends on the size of bait and the hook manu.. But for instance with eagle claw which is our favorite for bait. We us 12/0 to 20/0 on live baits, tuna/ macks etc. Dead bait in eagle claw, dinks for small blues under 200, 9/0 most mid sized 200-500 blues 9/0--12/0. For lures we use Mustad 7691S 9/0 to 12/0 depending on lure size and if single or double hook.

[mac86]

I'm fishing out of Curacao, off the coast of Venezuela.
The blue's around here are small to medium sized. From 150 to maybe 400 pounds.

We've only been using dead bait till now.
Ballyhoo is usually what we use, medium to large sized.
I want to try live bait as well (tuna), but I want to take it one step at a time.

[Patudo]

Guys, how important is the hook size? If you have a fish shows up that is the wrong size how good a chance do you have if the circle hook in your bait is too big or too small? What would be the best single size to use if pitching to a range of fish that could be anywhere from say 150 to 500+?

Thanks
patudo

[Squidnation]

the only person I know that fishes that area uses 8/0 Eagle claw 2004 circle hooks trolling tld 25s. Here is what his rigs look like. These are fished in Venezuela and Aruba but he has fished Curacao as well.



here is how they rig them

http://www.sportfishermen.com/board/...r-rigging.html

[FAT CAT MX]

The problem with circle hooks is that they are not standardized as J hooks are. So, it's difficult to say you should use such and such size.

In my opinion you should use as large a hook as will work with the bait you're using (especially important with live bait). It has to be large enough to encircle the jaw bone of the target species. Too small a hook will stick in the bone and most likely fall off during the fight (especially with jumping fish, like marlin).

Please be sure to use NON-offset circle hooks. They actually work better and you won't injure near as many fish.

[mac86]

Thanks for the replies guys!

I will give it a try and let you know how it went!

[sanchoco]

as with other hooks you should size your Circle hooks to your tackle first then the bait. I don't think the fish size will matter much on hooks as it may on bait size.

a 20/0 hook will not work for 20lb tackle. Having enough drag to set the hook is what determines the hook size more than anything.


From my exp in Venezuela most people fish 30 to 50lb outfits for blues. I would say 8/0 to 10/0 for 30 and 9/0 to 12/0 for 50lb. I have had 8/0 hooks straighten on 50lb class tackle before. that is why I started at 9/0. With a chugger in front of the ballyhoo I prefer the 10/0 eagle claw 2004EL or 2004G on my 30's and the 2004G 12/0 on my 50's. for naked baits the 2004el 8/0 on my 30's and 2004el 10/0 on my 50's. For larger baits(spanish) I would go to the 2004G 11/12 on my 50's.

Most of the Blues I have caught lately have been in Guatemala and are 200 to 400lbs and these sizes have worked for me.

[Patudo]

OK, so if I am pitching with 50W stand up tackle with 80 lb line the appropriate hook would be a 10/0 to 12/0 depending on bait size?