Bait/ hook size

Another frustrating nights fishing,Perfect conditions,Tide in further than Ive ever seen it,no wind,water like glass, not too cold. Bite after bite only minutes after casting.Only managed to land one tiny whiting. So Im going to look at my hook sizes as it appears that only the smaller fish are about this time of year.Even the doggies are gone.I generally use a size 2 or 3 hook but I think I need to scale down. I generally use frozen Mack as bait because I can never get out of work early enough to get to the shop. I have a bad habit of using overly big chunks or strips, so the fish get a meal but don't get hooked. So with mackerel should i use only a thumb nail size? and re. presentation should I have it on the tip of the hook or pushed through. Antoher problem is setting the hook. I can see the hits on my rod and then when I lift my rod the bits stop and then when I feel I bite and I strike I think Im just pulling the hook out of their mouths! What about these "self setting" circle hooks? I may invest in some this weekend. And I am definately retiring from Nolans Park, Dalkey as the "Rig Eating Monster" has returned and my approach this time was to leave slack on the line for a while and then reel it in and I was getting my gear back minus bait.There were no bhouys so maybe it insn't pots? Anyone know any subaqua enthusiasts! Im telling you there's a big conger there because something made mincemeat of a mackerel head I threw in last cast!

So anyways? smaller hooks?,circle hooks?smaller bait?,bait presentation?,can I freeze rag/lug? (I need to get some sand eel),Plesiosaurus?,New hobby?Emigration?

Cheers

Hi Cormdogg,
I think the hook sizes that you are using are ok, you could scale down to size fours if you wanted, I find that if you match the bait to the size of the hook it works better. When using Mac i would usually cut off a good bit of the flesh so that it is not to bulky on the hook, Also dont be to hasty to strike when you have a bite if you leave it for a while after the first initiall bite to see if you continue getting frequent taps if so after a while reel in your bait rather than strike as sometimes you can pull the hook from the fishes mouth, the only problem with leaving the bite is that the fish could swallow the hook and pin whities usually do not go back well anyway..its basically up to your own judgment how long you leave it out but you will get used to it after a while. Hope this helps!

Al

Not trying to be funny mate, but are you sure you are using size 2's & not size 2/0's & 3/0's, there's a massive difference. (I've never even heard of size 3's to be honest)

Try getting some frozen black lug or "Wraps" as they are called, they will give you perfect presentation when cut into 1 inch sections and you should catch more fish

hi cormdog, just to add my two cents. size two kamasan b940's are the hooks of choice and you will not need to go smaller than that unless fishing a comp and fish are scarce. if your getting bites and not hooking into fish i would say youve covered the point of the hook with bait and that added with striking the bites is losing you fish, i never strike unless using a float just let him nibble away until your happy hes on then lift the rod and reel continuosly to set the hook, dont pump the fish in ,keep the rod high and just reel. keep the point of the hook exposed when baiting and use a small piece of mackerel to tip worm baits, about thumb nail size with worms ,twice that alone and as AL said cut off the excess flesh.
lastly your choice of venue has never really produced the goods for me, it fishes in summer for wrasse and pollock but not much else theres a big tidal rip there and you need to fish close in to avoid it. ive never tried for a conger there but heard there are some about. you'd be better off hitting a beach, killiney ,greystones etc..
if ya fancy a session next week or next weekend let me know and ill hook up with ya and see if we can put all above into practice. gary

Frozen mack: The bait is much better if you gut the fish immediately, before freezing.


Bait size:- Definitely a factor for whitting. Two years ago I had no bait, so I used a salmon steak (Excellent bait by the way). With the chunks of salmon I was pulling in whitting in the 2lb region, nothing smaller, despite catching smaller fish to 1lb on the fly rod from the same spot at the same time.

For fish of that size (If you want to catch them) try using a size 8-10 hook. You will not believe the amount of fish you have been missing.

Thanks lads,
All very good info,appreciate it. The good or the bad news is that I have been using kamasan b940's! no. 2. I said i "3's" aswell because they're a little bit smaller than the 2's and I dunno where I got them,knew somebody would pick up on that! . Change of venue is the first thing. I don't like to wander off too far in the dark on my tobler because there is a pirate ghost or pirate ghosts after me Ill try and drag along a buddy but the problem with bringing a total novice is that you spend more time,setting them up and unsnagging etc that you barely have your own hook in the water! Must try the frozen lug and the salmon steak because its nigh impossible to get bait after work and only 2 left in the freezer!. I floor it to Viking some nights and stand out shouting "its only 5.57!". Ill get some 4's too. Regards the strike I know not to so its a case of self discipline! Patience is a virtue!

Thanks lads
Sure Ill let you'se know!

I'd say keep it simple, keep the hooks small and the bait small, make sure your not obstructing the hook point with the bait. I find if you wrap the small piece of mack in a small sausage shape with a bit of elastic thread before you thread it on the hook. then slide it on as you would with a worm. A few more turns of thread to secure it.
Works well for me.