Steel Hooks vs Stainless Steel Hooks

[canyongear]

Occasionally I overthink things..a flaw good or bad..just depends how it affects me or you.

Ive had a long battle running in my brain about hooks..so here is some information to have you weigh in on this subject ..

The angle here is this..price and performance.

Let's use Mustad 7691 9/0 standard issue southern and tuna hooks for the discussion. Im also including the new "Z" hook, which is steel with mustads new coating, not out yet in many tackle or online shops due to it's let's call it "newness".

RETAIL Pricing:

10PK at a well known and online tackle shop that carried the new Z jobs as well.

7691D- $21.99 - $2.19

> diff. - $18.00 - $1.80

7691Z - $39.99 - $3.99

> diff. - $ 4.00 - $0.40

7691S - $43.99 - $4.39

Ok, so now we got a baseline for price.

So here is the question, why would you pay the extra for stainless hooks when steel hooks are stronger by composition than stainless?

My guess is "corrosion" factor, right?

So Duratin hooks have a "corrosion" mystique..Mustad brings out "Z" hooks better corrosion resistance than duratin.

Fine..but the pricing is so far off target unless..unless "Z" is as good as stainless for corrosion resistance and cheaper and profitable for Mustad.

So, here's Mustads corrosion chart..you tell me why we buy stainless hooks that are not as strong as steel hooks?

[Lance325is]

Personally I rarely use stainless hooks due to the cost. I'd rather not worry about where I put my special 4 dollar a hook stainless when I redo my rigs. Also I buy a lot of my hooks in bulk to reduce the cost and the worry about rust...If it gets too rusty I just toss it and grab a fresh one. For some reason it seems its easier to sharpen a non stainless steel hook too.

[Nauti Natured]

Also, consider that a stainless hook will not rust out of a fish's mouth. Regular steel will rust out fairly fast.

[DEEP DEFIANCE]

Also, consider that a stainless hook will not rust out of a fish's mouth. Regular steel will rust out fairly fast.

Especially when shark fishing where most sharks are released.

[Patudo]

But if you were going to get a tongue/lip piercing would you rather it be stainless steel or non-stainless (ie rusty) ?????

[canyongear]

But if you were going to get a tongue/lip piercing would you rather it be stainless steel or non-stainless (ie rusty) ?????

Patudo..

There is a point in your post ...I know that ..I know you fish and know you catch..so elaborate..kind sir..or do we need to go to SCMO..for that?

[canyongear]

Since this is my thread..I will tell you that was the other issue scrambling around in my brain..why..woud you use stainless..in the event..that you had to cut and release..? Stainless is going to last and last..shouldn't all hooks be steel..? or steel coated? at least the hook has a chance to deteriorate..?

maybe?

maybe not?

infection due to rusting?

like I said..sometimes..i just overthink..uhh ugg..where's the boxman..China Tackle dot bomb raid?

[Nauti Natured]

Box would tell you to stay away from the Stainless because of the release..... learned from him myself.

[babalaza]

stainless it is... if I can afford a boat, maintaining it, share 1000$ to a charter with frds, 50$ for a plastic lure, (when that gives me a much higher amount of ballyhoos/mullets) or even 1.5 for a beer...

...I rather see a shining thing behind my baits.. and I don't want them poor fishes to get infected plus for me it's somewhat easier to keep a sharpened point and like Patudo said....

I wouldn't want to see a fish with rust all over when he can have some shiny bling..

[gradyfish265]

Depends what the lure is and how long that type of lure might last, alos how long between uses affects my decision. I ONLY use 3407 SSD for trolling ballyhoo, no need for an expensive SS hook here since they typically get rerigged after each use and I have about 30-50 rigged before each trip as spares, to me these see the most abuse. As for high end trolling lure's, I tend to use SS hooks, the price is more, but I do not wish to stain the skirts, once they stain they don't fish as well I find. As for spreader bars, A SS hook isn't necessary on cheaper squid bars since they tend to be rerigged a bit too and the swuid are cheap to replace, so I'd rather fish a hook that will rust out of a fishes mouth if lost. I do have some higher end spreader bars I run with SS hooks since the lures cost a lot more to replace, and having rusted hooks ruin the skirts would cost me an arm and a leg. To me, SS are a better value since they allow your tackle to last the longest, but are not ideal for all situations, sometimes it would just be a waste of money where other times it may save you a lot of money. I try to put the fish first and use a hook that will rust out over time until it becomes a situation where a rusting hook or replacing the hook every trip to avoid ruining a skirt could become very costly and burn too big of a hole in my wallet. Most of my bigger trolling lures especially marlin lures are SS, but I have begun to switch over to Owner Jobu hooks, very sharp and good hook set and they will rust out in time but rust slower then a duration finish hook.