Recommended Circle Hook Brand/Size for White Marlin

[BillF1sher]

I am looking for captains/mates top picks for circle hooks (both brand and size) for the class of white marlin found in our NE US waters.

I've tried eagle claw and owner and find that the barbs wear down pretty easily. (I rig our ballys with the small barrel swivel/monel setup, placing the hook through the barrel swivel right above the head). Unfortunately, I do not have the time or the excess funds to go out and try every type of hook to see what I like the best so I was hoping for some input.

Lastly, I know everyone has their own style of rigging their ballys and I am not looking for opinions on rigging style, just the hook. Thanks in advance!

[Bert Rodgers]

The Eagle Claw 7/0 billfish circle is the hook to use, but you have to understand it's a one time only hook.

Bert

[clt_capt]

Eagle claw 7/0 - definitely a one time throwaway.

[z71offshore]

eagle claw 7/0 2004. one i use for most everything.

[Swami]

Another vote for the Eagle Claw 2004 in 7/0 for whitey...use 'em and then lose 'em...

[BillF1sher]

Thanks everyone. I think its settled!

[Captain Jay Kavanagh]

I think the Eagle Claw 7/0 is too small a gap.

We use the 8/0 in that hook.

Last year we used the Mustad 39951BLN Demon in a 7/0 that were about the same size as the Eagle Claw 2004 8/0

Mustad felt the need to change the 39951BLN to an Ultra Point and I don't like it, others share the same opinion.

This year we are using VMC 7385BN 7/0.

The eagle claw's are about a size smaller than the other hooks, so in them I would use a 8/0 for whites, and a 7/0 is strictly sailfishing, for both I would use the 8/0.

My$.02

[Deep C]

The one worry I have with the ec2004 is the light guage of the wire and if you happen to get on say a big eye or blue you run the risk of bending it out come leader time. That being said I'm running them in 8/0 on my flats. Going to the owner on my riggers with slightly bigger baits and heavier line.
My insides for blues are gonna be horse and the hook I settled on there is the 12/0 mustad "Z" hook... Nice big open gap...

[Captain Jay Kavanagh]

What Owner hook?

[Deep C]

What Owner hook?

SSW5179 Its also light wire. 8/0 also, but heavier than the EC . They make a heavy but too heavy for this duty... Think they are called Mutu... Maybe a chunking one.

I use those mustad bln ultrapoints in 5/0 and 6/0 for sails with live bait and love em but havn't mastered getting them to stick in fish on the troll...

That Z series (39948) I'm using on horses and small macks with that big gap also have eased up some of my woes with "combo" baits... Not as good as a J by any means in that capacity but at least opens up the option of one or two in my spread as long as the lure I use over the hoo isn't too big....
The gap on those Z hooks is bigger than say the EC in an 18/0/ Fairly light but extremely strong "Z" wire...