Best hook size?

Just ordered some more hooks, but was wondering what size you thought was the best for max results? I normally go for Mustad baitholder 2/0's, but I often blank and wondered if it was my hook size giving me difficulties. I've been using normal mono, but I've just ordered some more 15lb flouro-carbon for snoods.

Any suggestions?

Ian

Use 20lb amnesia for your snoods. Change your hooks to kamasan b940's size 4-1. The barbs on the bait holders make it hard for fish especially flats to get hold of the bait when they are trying to suck it off.

Personally I don't understand why bait holders seem to be the only other hook beside kamasans to be stocked in Irish tackle shops. The bait barbs are useless and they snap when unhooking conger. If kamasans are to springy for the fish your after try using vikings.

Donagh

Hi IDPearly, George and Donagh....

I've given up on Irish tackle shops totally and buy all my hooks online from veals and birdstackle (previously aaangling). If you buy in batches of 100 (4 boxes of 25) the price including P&P and sterling works out ridiculously cheaper than here, and I do mean ridiculously cheaper... you can also get bronzed hooks, wire and circle hooks, specific patterns, etc.

In terms of hook size below 1/0s means you will be catching some tiny fish. It's not so much the conservation issue that keeps me to above that but a preference for something on the end that has a bit of fight to it, and of edible proprtions :) even if you have to wait a bit longer...

FWIW

Unless you are targeting specific larger fish, size 2-1/0 is best. Smaller hooks catch big fish and small fish. Big hooks just catch big fish, as flatties etc can't get their mouths around the gape of the hook.

Now, that was my thinking, but I do blank a lot.

Theres an east west divide when it comes to hook sizes. I can put the reason down to blanking on the east coast because I haven't down sized my hooks when fishing. Catching something is better than nothing. It's amazing how small a size 1/0 hooks looks when you've been using 4/0 and how big size 1/0 looks when you've been using size 4s. Just remember to upsize when going west.

Donagh

I rarely use hooks over size 1 , I use the smallest I can get away with yet still big enough so as that the fish cannot take the bait off.

i am in the same boat myself George, or on the same stretch of coast!

i use 2/0 and 3/0 and have had no problem with flatties(they do have big mouths) i use 2/0 from spring to autumn and 3/0 in winter(so i dont get plagued by tiny whiting)

I once caught a 30cm whiting on a 6/0 baited for conger.....And that IS true.

just to add on,

your making a good move getting the flourocarbon, it has improved my catch rate since i started using it compared to using amnesia or teklon gold, also most of the people i fish with now have had the same sucess flourocarbon and dont look back,

your asking about the hook size, well i have one back for you regarding your bait presentation, how well are you presenting

is its neat, not oversized, with the hook well exposed

personnaly i like small baits (fillet of sandeel, thin strips of fish, half a peeler, crabs legs, small worms)

not everytime you go out will you catch the big one but by reducing your hook size / bait size you will catch more

i would recommend size 4s & 2s for scratching, which is normally good enough for most fish up 3 - 5 lbs

keep it simple by using the kamasan B940s

regards

mick

Man this surely must be oldest resurrected post on any forum i've seen!! Good four year gap!! :lol: :lol:

These things happen :( :( when your lock out of the pub for 24 hours :lol: :lol: :roll:

These things happen :( :( when your lock out of the pub for 24 hours :lol: :lol: :roll:

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

:shock:

You're as surprized as I am!!!

Hope you guys are all well & kicking!! Singapore is well n truly overfished!!

Still miss the fishin your way!! Miss the craic too!!

All the best,

Ian

funny thing hook sizes
over the decades the best all round hook size for beach fishing is getting smaller. when i started beach fishing my best all rounder was a 2/0 or 3/0 now its a size 1. a sign of fisheries depletion or better hook manufacturing methods?