Fish Hook Sizes -What Works Best?
Hello readers and fellow anglers. Every fisherman comes to that moment when it’s time to decide how to set up their rod and reel. Which hook you use is an important decision in this process. How do anglers know which hook to use with such a diversity of fish hook sizes?
Know the targeted species!
Whether your deep sea fishing off the California coast or ice fishing a frozen Maine lake, it’s important to know what kind of fish you mean to catch. This will determine a range of hooks that will work well for your condition.
Big fish will eat small hooks
You’re not as likely to catch a small fish with a huge hook, big fish will eat small hooks. Generally speaking, it’s better to hook a fish with the largest size hook you can. At least it’s better for your chances of landing the fish. However, when fish get finicky or spooky a smaller hook might just get them to bite.
When it comes to hooks, I have a few go-to brands. I do prefer Owner’s Flyliner Black Chrome Ringed Hook (Size 1/0, 7-Pack)
This 30 lb Yellowfin tuna was caught when the fish had backed off and were very wary of the boat and the bait we presented. Now guess which hook it was caught on?
If you said the smaller hook, you were right. Notice the car charger added for perspective? It’s truly amazing that a hook this small landed the tuna above.
Who’s catching fish?
If no one’s catching fish, it’s probably not the hook that matters. On the other hand, if you see people catching and you’re not, talk to them. Inspect their gear if they allow. What kind of hook are they using?
Circle hook design leads to hook sets in the lip or jaw of fish. The feature is extremely useful for larger fish like bluefin tuna. Many of these fish are lost due to hook sets deeper in their mouth. Their teeth are small but sharp and will wear through the line as it rubs across them. A hook set in the lip or mouth avoids such an issue by keeping the line away from the teeth.
Owner American Mutu Circle Hk 2/0 6P
Tie strong knots
Short and simple! It won’t matter what size hook you use if your knot is weak. Hooks can be relatively cheap or pretty expensive. It all adds up, and what’s worse, you’ll never know what you had on the line.
Be careful!
Fishing remains one of our valued outdoor activities. Fishing also involves hazards. Proper use and storage of hooks and lures will prevent personal injury or harm to others.
FishtFight.com welcomes any and all feedback. What did you think? Did you learn anything? Is there a topic you’d like to see? Shout out and let me know. Don’t forget to like and share if you enjoyed.
Geoff@FishtFight.com
Hello, nice article you got there. I didn’t experience fishing first hand but I kinda view it enjoyable. The tuna that you caught sure is expensive. Congratulation on catching it. The call to action at the bottom of your page is really good. i consider doing the same thing with my site as well. 🙂
Thanks for the comment. You’re right about tuna being expensive! So is fishing, but what isn’t that’s really enjoyable? It sure is worth it. Geoff.
Fish Hook Sizes? Well, I have a lot to learn regarding fishing. It makes sense that one must adjust hook sizes, depending upon the fish one seeks. The only fish I’ve ever caught were trout, pickerel, and pike. I only cut myself on one of them. I’m sure you know which one. Perhaps you could write about barbed and barbless hooks. I live in an area that won’t allow barbed hooks. Thanks for writing about hooks. Perhaps next time you can explain the bards so I may come back and read it.
Hi Shawn, and thanks for the observations. It’s a good point you make about barbs. In ocean fishing we almost always use barbed hooks. I too though, have fished trout rivers requiring barbless hooks. This might go well in a post about responsible fishing practices. Thanks for the feedback and the idea provoking thoughts. Geoff.
I agree also depending on bait. In November i was using mustad size 1 hook to catch tuna because all we had for bait was chovies
Victor is a fellow angler here in San Diego. He knows an anchovy can’t swim anywhere with a 2/0 hook through his nose. Thanks Victor Soltero. Geoff