what size hooks for whiting?

what size hooks are best for whiting lads? and what kind of traces? iv been told to try baited mackerel feathers or lures??not sure thats the best tho?? havint a clue what works best

From the shore usually a 1/0 long shank hook works best on a pennell rig, they go for all types of bait i had some in skerries over the weekend on mackeral, mussells and lug so there not that picky.

Depends on the bait size. Largest I'd use with be 1 with a section of sand eel which works for me. You can go down as small as you like after that. Very small hooks 4 to 6 with tiny scraps of sand eel will get more hook ups with larger fish if you go through the numbers. If whiting are shoaling theres no point trying to upscale to avoid them as they'll just shred your bait.

Donagh

Fished Slade Harbour (Hook Peninsula, Wexford) on Saturday Night. High Tide saw the Harbour alive with whiting - hundreds cruising in and out just below the surface. Had plenty of time to experiment dangling a bait just below our feet. Used Squid and Makerel, although the squid attracted some interest the Makerel was hit as soon as it entered the water - far superior. Using Size 1 hook worked best, fun being able to watch them attack the bait, most were on the small size (as usual) but managed to catch a coupl around 12oz to 1lb. Problem was trying to avoid the little scaley fellas.

Something was hounding them in there as well, every few minutes the shoal would scatter, didn't catch site of it as it was probably staying deeper. Suspect it was a Conger or perhaps Bass - and No, couldn't catch it whatever it was, even using some of the small fellas as bait :evil:

I've always found that using a small hook when whiting are around leads to loads of swallowed hooks and dead minnows :( . I don't go lower than a 1'0 hook. As for trace it usually does not matter aslong as it has a fish (preferably mackeral) bait attached.