Confusion with hook sizes

Hi Guys

Since I started lure fishing last year I have come to grips with hook sizes simply by ordering various sizes and seeing what the differences are. Besides that being an expensive way to find out I would just like to know more precisely what the differences are - it is quite different to the salmon fly sizes I'm used to.

For example what is the difference between 1 and 1/0 - 2 and 2/0 what does the '0' denote ? And have I got it right if I say that the smaller number denotes the smaller hook in general ?
Each manufacturer seems to have a different physical size for the same hook number which doesn't help my confusion.

Thanks

FB

hook sizes start small, say, size six, and go up in size 4,2,1,when it hits one, then you go to 1/0 and as they get bigger they go 2/0,3/0,4/0 etc, so the difference between a 1 and a 1/0 is two hook sizes,the 1. being the smallest. 0 defines zero. a flounder with a small mouth would take a 2 or 4 size hook,and a cod with a big mouth would need a 3/0 upwards.but most sea anglers would go with the theory that a small hook will catch big fish and small fish.altho i would not try to catch a cod on a size 4! hope this helps!

hook sizes start small, say, size six, and go up in size 4,2,1,when it hits one, then you go to 1/0 and as they get bigger they go 2/0,3/0,4/0 etc, so the difference between a 1 and a 1/0 is two hook sizes,the 1. being the smallest. 0 defines zero. a flounder with a small mouth would take a 2 or 4 size hook,and a cod with a big mouth would need a 3/0 upwards.but most sea anglers would go with the theory that a small hook will catch big fish and small fish.altho i would not try to catch a cod on a size 4! hope this helps!

Well you know that is what I thought they should do but........... the hooks I have do the opposite i.e. size 3 for example is a lot bigger than size 1 and my size 1/0 is smaller than the 1