Would this work

[capt. woodward]

With all the talk on circle hooks for billfish has anyone tried something like this.Please forgive my drawing skills.

I've tried different hook rigs including just running the hook at the bottom of the tails. If the marlin wants it bad enuf he'll get stuck eventually. I still don't understand what all the confusion is about. I don't fish in tournaments anymore so the "new" rules don't affect me. I prefer using the circles, because they are more effective in hooking a fish than J's. That's just my opinion.

[anthony]

Fin - I personally would rethink that statement. No bash intended. But why wouldn't you fish with it at all times. That is the only way you will get better at hook setting with a new technique. I am sure our billfish numbers will be a bit lower this year but we will be pulling circles 100% of the time billfishing this year. Tournament or not. Just a thought.

Bill, are you suggesting pulling circles when meat fishing?

[frankypettolina]

Anthony,

On the Last Call all of our nakeds will be circle all of the time. My other stuff will most likely be J's. I think come tournament time it will be naked swimmers and skippers, and thats it.

I am surprised old squiddy bill has not pointed out the fact that a single squidnation Au Natural with a J hook on the right short rigger will make an excellent bait to complement a spread of guacs and skippers. You could probably even get away with giving ol whitey a dropback with that soft of a bait .

[cape_fisherman]

In the picture up on the original post...can you guarantee the meat will pop free at the hookset? If not, it looks like the leader will be pulling the circle in the wrong direction for a hookup. Don't circles need to rotate toward the bite? Just asking.

Jay

[anthony]

Anthony,

On the Last Call all of our nakeds will be circle all of the time. My other stuff will most likely be J's. I think come tournament time it will be naked swimmers and skippers, and thats it.

I am surprised old squiddy bill has not pointed out the fact that a single squidnation Au Natural with a J hook on the right short rigger will make an excellent bait to complement a spread of guacs and skippers. You could probably even get away with giving ol whitey a dropback with that soft of a bait .

Franky,

I agree with you regarding what to pull this year when charter fishing(and tourney fishing). I just thought it odd that Bill would make that statement when he is rigging all kinds of stuff with J hooks. I will certainly be pulling circles on my flat lines most if not all the time this year when charter fishing, but everything else will be J hooks....and I don't think I am ready to put a circle on my Squidnation spreaderbar!