What are the best overall sizes/types for live eel fishing for Stripers??
I hear Gamikatsu Octopus 5/0 is good, but my tackle shop has like every size BUT that.
They have Octopus circle hooks in 5/0 but I hear there not as good.

How bout herring? Are the Gami's still the best?? What Size?

Finally, for dead baits, what are the best general sizes? Do Gami's still rule in this department?? For dead baits I mean strips of squid, mackeral chunks, clam bellies, etc.:cool:

I youch for them

http://www.flyfishsaltwaters.com/cgi-bin/ubb/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=1&t=003574&p=

11/0? Isn't that to big? I mean if a schoolie bites, will he be able to fit it in his mouth??

Hook sizes vary.
This 11/0 is fine for small bass. Check them out. Note They are about a buck a piece but you do not lose them often.

Is this 11/0 the same size as a 11/0 Gamagatsu or Mustad? If so, that's way too big for eels (but I've never seen those hooks).

I use a 6/0 Mustad or 6/0 Gami 2x Live Bait (little heavier - thanks for that tip cowhunter)...

If you are just starting off with eels, go with the circle hooks - do a search on them and you'll see a lot of info

Use a 6/0 circle. I've never had an issue with missing fish using a circle and I never end up gut hooking any either. Courner of the mouth every time. Absolutely incredible. I use em for both herring and eeling, although with herring I'll often go a size bigger.

I will try to post a pic later

This looks like the post where the comparisons were made
Note
"There was varying success but the Diiachi improved circle in 11/0 is now my hook, please try it and maybe save a fish. They are the size of a normal 6/0, I have no idea why they are called 11/0."


"Author Topic: Circle Hook trials, debate is over
M^2
Member posted 05-30-2000 09:20 AM
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
for me anyway!
Last year I was using Gami 6/0 Octipus hooks(non-circle) and would occasionally gank a fish livelining, I kept the fish and enjoyed the table fair(fare?), 8 fish all last year.

This year I wanted to control when I kept my dinner so I spent the month of May using different circle hooks to see if they really worked and if I could get used to them. Two of us in the boat tried the following hooks with the following results on fish from 24" to 30 pounds:

1) Gami Octipus Circles(5/0, 6/0, 7/0)

These hooks are absolute fish killers and should not be used at all for a catch and release situation. I would bet when TS tried circle hooks and was hurting fish bad he was using these(a post on his forum about circle hooks)

2) Diiachi Improved Circles(5/0, 11/0)

BEST HOOK MADE as far as I am concerned, these hooks have not hooked a fish badly and have become my hook. It is amazing to see a corner mouth hook everytime and what a relief to grab a fishes lower jaw in the dark and not have to find the hook first and worry where it is.

3) Owner Circles(6/0)

I like the look of these hooks but if the hooks set is not absolutely perfect you will be bringing home dinner. There was an occasional deep hooked fish but they performed decent.

4) Eagle claw circles(5/0)

These hooks are small for live lining herring but I plan to try them again with eels if the hooks set is not absolutely perfect you will be bringing home dinner. This hook ganked the first fish they encountered.

There was varying success but the Diiachi improved circle in 11/0 is now my hook, please try it and maybe save a fish. They are the size of a normal 6/0, I have no idea why they are called 11/0.

The downfall of circles:

1)Is when you get a bluefish or those damn brown sharks because they are not the easiest hook to get out if you can't still your hands in the fishes mouth.

2) You come home time and time again smelling like fish yet don't one and have to explain to the wife how good these new circle hook work!(then she says if it works so good where is my fish for dinner..grrr..still wouldn't trade her for any other!

Mark"

http://dangagga.no-ip.org:8080/hinwa01/bass/hook.jpg

About those red hooks, what is the big deal with them? Do they look like blood and catch more fish or something?? Bad thing is, most hook sizes and types I need aren't available in red.:(

Also, I went to boaters world today and saw a Mustad Ultra point hook kit with many of the recommended hook sizes I have seen in this forum for my types of fishing (live eels, live herring, chunk mackeral, herring and squid) Are Mustad Ultra point hooks sharp and good? Should I pick up this kit, will it help in my arsenal?

Also, at bennies there is a small container with 4/0-6/0 hooks, about 15 or 20, for $1.99. They are all Mustads, and I was wondering, since they are so cheap, are they dull, bad hooks? Should I keep them with me for back-up??
Thanks!
:happy:

The red is for blood. It is just marketing. They come in black too.

Cheap Mustads work but you will need to sharpen them and all hooks eventually. Get a file.

Originally posted by StarsnStripers
What are the best overall sizes/types for live eel fishing for Stripers??
I hear Gamikatsu Octopus 5/0 is good

stick ta those!!!

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/pod/horizontal-pod.jhtml?id=0011671&navAction=push&navCount=3&indexId=cat20411&parentId=cat20411&parentType=index&rid=&_DARGS=%2Fcabelas%2Fen%2Fcommon%2Fcatalog%2Fpod-link.jhtml.2_A&_DAV=http%3A%2F%2Fa1460.g.akamai.net%2Fv%2F1460%2F 1339%2F6h%2Fwww.cabelas.com%2Fcabelas%2Fen%2Fconte nt%2FPod%2F01%2F16%2F71%2Fp011671ii01.jpg

I have been using the Gamikatsu Octopus 5/0 for casting eels for the last few years. They are less expensive then the Diiachi and when new nearly as sharp. The Diiachi is one of the most superior hooks IMO but I go thru a lot of hooks so I generally use the Gamikatsus. I use to use a 5/0 SS mustads but the Gamikatsu's and Diiachi are really sharp and pretty darn strong.


As far as circles go...if you are boat or bottom fishing and your rod is in a rod holder or sand spike...this are fine. I prefer the conventional hooks when casting eels. But if you modify your hook-set style I see no reason you could not use these as well for casting.

If I deep hook a small fish I cut off the leader. The hook will rust out pretty quick if it is not stainless. If the fish are small and this becomes a regular thing... I set the hook a little sooner.

I did not loose too many fish and had to take only about 4 or 5 fish home that would not have made it. (that is a low percentage)

I don't think any fisherman should rip the hook out of a gut hooked fish. The fish is better off with a hook in there that will rust out in a week. I also tried a cool hook remover that grabs onto the hook and when you sqeeze the handle the hook flips 180 degrees and you can extract it a lot more easily.

I will be doing more boat fishing next season :D and I will be using more circles.