Circle Hook Technique?

[Dan in Alaska]

Large circle hooks are very popular in Alaska for halibut. I have seen charters use circle hooks ranging from 16/0 to 20/0. I also use circle hooks, but I am not very good at getting a consistance hook up with fish. I miss a lot of strikes. What's the most effective technique? I have heard advice from charter captains to NOT set the hook because it just pulls the hook out of their mouth. But I have heard conflicting advice from other charter captains that say a solid hook set is required for large fish? Still others say a steady pull, not a quick jerk, is best.

I have tried them all, and hooked fish with each technique, but not consistantly. Which is the best?

[JahMussa]

Here's my 2 cents...

The science behind a circle hook says to come tight on the fish as fast as you can without setting the hook. The problem is that using a 20/0 hook.. the wire is so big that you will need 20 + lbs of drag pressure to bury the barb.

Circle hooks work when matched to the line, rod, drag pressure you are fishing. Light wire hooks bury with less drag than large wire hooks.

So to the Capt's that are using really big hooks... once they come tight on the fish and the barb is not buried (but on it's way), I think "setting" the hook may be needed to finish the job.

Also.. spectra line is a HUGE help when fishing circles in deep water.

Hope that makes sense and helps you put more fish in the boat.

-Tek

[captkenr]

I think JahMusa is dead on target, especially suggesting the use of superbraids in extremely deep water. Wimpy rods and mono make hook sets with huge circles a very "iffy" proposition. If you use huge circles, take the time to sharpen them. Yeah, I think an attempt to set the hook might just work after the fish is already hooked.

The biggest problem that most folks have with Circle Hooks is that they do not know how to bait them properly. If you bury the hook in the bait, you decrease your hook up ratio drastically.

Even if you bait a circle hook properly, the bait might spin around on the descent or strike and re-hook itself, thus blocking the point and gap. This, of course, can also occur with conventional "J" style hooks. Soft bait with flaps of skin or meat can greatly increase the problem. If you "choke" the Gap of the hook, you are almost assured of no hook ups.

Here is a way to increase your hook-up ratio with Circles: Using unwaxed dental floss, form a bump on the shank of the hook about a half inch down the shank below the place where the point is closest to the shank.(Cover with Epoxy or at least Super Glue. ) This will keep the bait from sliding up the hook on the descent or strike. If you use fairly tough bait, you should have few problems with hook sets. Of course, you must not hook the bait too deeply. I hook baitfish through the top of the eye sockets, in one side and out the other.

A whole fish with a streamlined shape works best for me. There is less spinning on the descent and less likelihood of the bait arriving tangled when it gets to the bottom.

I try to use live baits wherever possible. A 10# Jack Crevalle is not too large for Goliath Grouper. Baits this large make hooking up hard unless you bridle them. To make a bait bridle that works, Take a 10" length of 130# dacron and tie the ends together with a Surgeon's knot. Using a bait needle, pull one end of this loop through the baits eye sockets, side to side and insert the other end of the loop through the other end of the loop. To attach the hook, simply insert the hook through the loop and pass one side of the loop over the hook and then the other for 5 or 6 passes. The hook should be with n a couple of inches of the baits nose.

I've caught only one Halibut (it was caught on a Scampi)so I may be speaking out of turn here. I'd assume Halibut feed somewhat like Flounders, taking the bait and dropping back to the bottom. This does not a great scenario for easy hook sets with Circle Hooks because the fish is, most likely facing you when it drops back to the bottom. My parties catch an occasional Flounder when bottom fishing but I'm sure we get far more bites than hook ups.

With Grouper, Snapper and Goliath Grouper, they generally dash out, grab the bait and turn away when they feel pressure. This turn generally gets the hook moving toward the corner of the mouth. About this time, I'm reeling like crazy then lifting the rod. On large fish, my hook up rate is 90% or better. Small fish are harder.

I've used Circle Hooks for 51 years and do not allow the use of "J" hooks on my charters when fishing for the species I target most often.

[Cooper]

I've only drift fished with circle hooks for species like kingfish, dolphin, tuna, sailfish, etc. I always leave the rod in the holder with the drag locked. When the fish hits, he hooks himself. Take the rod out of the holder and reel!

[About Time]

I agree with all above . I was having that problem fishing for stripers ... Talked to the guys that use them and the fish has to set the hook it self. Do not try to set the hook for them.. Changed to that method and hookup became more regular... It's fustrating learning but you will...Mitch

[CB Haws]

I use them for tuna. Most of the time I am "working" the line on a chunk. When the tuna picks up the bait I just "thumb" the reel while pointing the tip at the fish; push the Penn Int'l to "Strike" and just lift the rod. Wham-O! I usually use whole Butterfish with the hook point outside the bait. If using live tinker macks I hook through the eyes if drifting or behind the the dorsal if at anchor. Dead macks and squid I hook through the "pointy" end. I use NO hook set. I also use nothing larger than an 8/0 and have never had any trouble with hook ups even on Giant Bluefins.

[tprice]

Same thing with freshwater stripers here in SC. It is hard to learn but we pull freelines and planer boards and everytime you to and set the hook
all you do is pull it out of the fish's mouth. You have to leave it in the rod holder and when the rod bends and the drag starts going out they are hooked.

I am using some rods with Big Game Trilene and have some loaded with Power Pro to see if there is any difference. Too early to tell yet but it seems I get
more hookups on the Power Pro.

[Tom Bare]

What Ken said...except whenever I use a circle on ANY livie, I ALWAYS bridle the bait up. Also, hard to counterract genetics and not set the hook. Takes seeing it done a few times personally to make you a believer. Just reel it tight and the battle will be on.

I actually caught a 40 pound cobia TODAY on a 12/0 circle bridled to a dead blue crab!

[KamaKozee]

A lot of the fishermen I know who use them, including charter capts. bend the circle hook open slightly more than from factory using pliers - it improves the hook up ratio considerable, but still catches them in the mouth.