Hook sizes for what species

[mackymurphy]

Hi I'm still learning about fishing I would appreciate if you could tell me what sizes hooks for what size species

For example

size 4=what fish
...
1/0 = what fish
2/0=what fish
and so on



thanks

[cw1]

Hi mackymurphy, I usually use either a 1/0 or 2/0. Don't really go smaller/bigger than that. I think some of the other lads might go smaller. But I find the above sizes usually work for the normal target species. You'd be surpise how much a beer mat sized founder or a micro whiting can stick in their gob

[doggie3131]

would normally use 4s or 2s for flatties like flounder,dabs,and wrasse,2s and 1s for turbot,seatrout,bigger wrasse, and bass i believe! :mrgreen:1/0s 2/0s to 4/0s for huss,ray,dogs,pollock,coalies etc,but ive had a salmon on a number 4,and a flounder on a 2/0,so no firm rules then.but the general advice would be you can catch big fish on small hooks,but you dont normally get small fish on big hooks.except bloody whiting!they will take anything on any size hook!

[mackymurphy]

Thanks for the replies lads

[bpmurray]

These sizes are pretty much accurate unless, of course, you're fishing from Balbriggan to Kilkeel, when you'll probably start looking at sizes 16-10 ...

[eric]

match the hook to the size of bait. generally speaking its rare that il go above a size 2. im more than happy fishing small baits and more often than not they will catch big and small fish.

a size 2/0 is perfect for a crab for a smoothound, its also perfect for a big sandeel bait for a ray.don't get lured into the whole big bait big fish ethos. youl only get bored and catch less fish. a small flounder may be able to fit a 1/0 in his mouth but your gonna miss a fair few fish in the mean time.

[red]

im with eric on this.
i usually only use size 2's or 1's and rarely go bigger as its generally clean beach fishing i do where anything can turn up. if i was specificly targeting Bass i'd probably up it to a 1/0. my biggest Bass of 8lb 8oz was on a size 2 kamazan b940 and it was fine. if you do hook something big then play the fish and use the drag on the reel to make sure you dont snap the hook. you get a better buzz too fishing like that than using huge strong hooks and just hauling the fish out.
at a comp a few weeks ago i used b940's but in size 1. i had a thornie around the 5lb mark, a doggie and a huss of 9lb 2oz on them.

[baitdigger]

match the hook to the size of bait. generally speaking its rare that il go above a size 2. im more than happy fishing small baits and more often than not they will catch big and small fish.

a size 2/0 is perfect for a crab for a smoothound, its also perfect for a big sandeel bait for a ray.don't get lured into the whole big bait big fish ethos. youl only get bored and catch less fish. a small flounder may be able to fit a 1/0 in his mouth but your gonna miss a fair few fish in the mean time.

Eric, you are the first person to mention the golden rule, match the hook to the bait.

Whilst I agree with much of what you said there are many of us that dont want to catch stuff that can't bend the rod and most of us aren't bored with waiting and catching 'less'(lesser) I get annoyed at having to remove flounder from my pennel 4/0s and if there was the slightest chance of a Tope I will fillet the offending flounder and send him back out on a bigger hook.

Many of us have no interest in scratching or match style fishing. Imho little hooks should be reserved for mullet and match fishing. Stick with a size of hook that will allow the bait to be presented nicely with the point and barb of the hook clearly showing.

[eric]

match the hook to the size of bait. generally speaking its rare that il go above a size 2. im more than happy fishing small baits and more often than not they will catch big and small fish.

a size 2/0 is perfect for a crab for a smoothound, its also perfect for a big sandeel bait for a ray.don't get lured into the whole big bait big fish ethos. youl only get bored and catch less fish. a small flounder may be able to fit a 1/0 in his mouth but your gonna miss a fair few fish in the mean time.

Eric, you are the first person to mention the golden rule, match the hook to the bait.

Whilst I agree with much of what you said there are many of us that dont want to catch stuff that can't bend the rod and most of us aren't bored with waiting and catching 'less'(lesser) I get annoyed at having to remove flounder from my pennel 4/0s and if there was the slightest chance of a Tope I will fillet the offending flounder and send him back out on a bigger hook.

Many of us have no interest in scratching or match style fishing. Imho little hooks should be reserved for mullet and match fishing. Stick with a size of hook that will allow the bait to be presented nicely with the point and barb of the hook clearly showing.

yep, i totaly get not everyone is going to enjoy fishing the for the little stuff. but seeing as mackymurphy is only getting into fishing perhaps a few sessions with fish no matter what size are whats needed. its easy for the newbie to go all out big hook fishing because their told but someone the only way to target bass is with a 4/0 pennel pulley and a lug and crab cocktail, but its not a very effective way to get a few fish under the belt especially when your starting off. its very easy to get disillusioned aqnd give up because your not catching fish. fish small, fish light and you will catch, then worry about going after the bigger stuff when you get a little more experience.

[typhoon]

what size hook should i use for mullet?

[mackymurphy]

Thanks very much this is great advice