circle hooks????

[mariner_22]

Hey guys

Was out on a charter earlier in the year and one of my mates was dropping a lot of fish and the skipper suggested to us to use circle hooks. What is the verdict on them and do you have to fish with them differently to normal hooks.

[Blackened]

G'day
Yes they are brilliant, they need to be fished differently. This subject has been covered in depth recently, just do a quick search ;)

Dave

[mariner_22]

I Have used the octopus style hooks while livebaiting for sharks a couple of times and didn't change my technique. But that was shark fishing not much finnesse needed there. Have had a look at some older posts and the overall feeling is that circle hooks catch more fish. However, still not sure how i have to fish with them differently. Will be using them for reef fishing and i know that you dont want to give the fish to much line and space to run you into the reef so do i just wait until the fish goes hard and then hit him or will i have to feed a bit of line back ????

Any advice would be much appreciated

[davez104]

Not so much feed line back, just don't strike. Let the fish swim off and when it all comes up tight, then you can give em all ya got. If you strike it just pulls the hook out of his mouth and does not give the hook a chance to turn into the corner of his mouth.

Dave.

[blue-mako]

I have used circle hooks on Bull Sharks in the Brisbane River before. I must have lost 10 or so solid sharks using them even though I did what they say. 'Let them run for awhile then tighten the drag' still lost sharks.

Troy

[mariner_22]

Thanks for the comments guys question do you use the semi-circle hooks like octopus hooks differently to the true tuna circle hooks

[magicpudding]

Used correctly, the true circle hooks are great. We've been using them for a while now when livebaiting, and the results are pretty good. The most of the fish we've dropped on them were hooked up in a fashion where pressure was put on the fish too soon. The best pattern for light tackle and reef fishing seems to be the eagle claw EL2004 with NO OFFSET. They're a thin gauge and seem to find their way into the corner of the jaw very easily.

CJ

[Tony_N]

I've given them a couple of outings on my floatline outfit. Had the outfit in a rod holder - so no question of striking early . Set the baitrunner function from zero to max pressure (about 1kg) on the drag and have had several big runs - but no hookup. Keeping the gapes open - infact now tying the bait on with baitmate to ensure this. I have decided to go back to octopus/suicide hooks until I get to fish with someone who really knows how to use them. There's got to be something subtle that I'm missing.

Tony

[finding_time]

Ok Tony

Now your talking !! When am i comming down for that fishing trip!!!

Ian

[Tony_N]

Ok Tony

Now your talking !! When am i comming down for that fishing trip!!!

Ian

:D Mate check your PM

[Great_White]

Have had limited experiences with them, but was loosing a fair few squire by not knowing how to set the suicide hooks. I changed to the circles and the fish hook themselves. My catch rate improved vastley and I will not be going back to the suicide hooks I use to use.

Peter :)

[griz066]

Big $$$$$$$$ compared to the others 8-)

[Steve_Monckton]

I use only use octopus hooks(9/0) for deep water fishing and have never had a problem with them. The hook up rate is excellent and very few fish if any drop off the hook. The occys also hold live bait better and I like the size of the gape as it has more bite to it, especially on big mouthed species. I know of fisho's that use circle hooks and they seem to lose a few from pulling the hook on the way up. Occy hooks are cheap and effective and I would not change to circle at this stage. cheers steve. 8-)

[mariner_22]

Thanks for the comments guys think i might switch to the octopus style hooks at this stage and give them a go