Was wondering works best. I have used the Gamakatsu 9/0 live bait a lot and was wondering if others had better luck with a different hook/sizes etc. Thanks

Owner Jabu

i second the owner jobu or jabu or whatever it is, and size depends on the size of the pogie, size of the tuna, if they are being picky or not, and depends if your bridleing it or not.

also, i like the circle hooks. i HATE circle hooks for every other form of fishing, i refuse to use them for any other fish. it is how they catch HUGE marlin, consistently. and those things jump. once a circle hook is in a tuna jaw, its not comming out, unless you do something wrong, like fight the fish too long. long liners have been using them long before recreational fisherman have, and those huge tuna fight nothing but a longline for hours until someone comes around to pull them in. its like a padlock to the mouth.

Agree with RR.

Thank for the info,so a regular pogy should i be using a 9/0 or 10/0 owner jobu hook size on average on the balloon and kite or ? We got quite a few fish last yr on the smaller 9/0 gamakatzu hooks but lost a lot of fish due to crappy hook penetration as well so this info is huge thank you.

Mark,

See pm's.

Thanks Matt I need all the help I can get :)

Mark,

See pm's.

What's the big secret?:)

Hi Steve,big secret is he knows I am clueless haha. I went with some Owner offshore 9/0's for the bunker on the balloons,some super mutu 10/0's for the bluefish bait and some owner jobu 9/0's also for both the kite and balloons. Now I figure I can try all of them in one season . How is hot reels is she ready to run ? Still have the blue 21 contender over here,tiny but has heart out on the bank :) Mark

Hey Mark,
I'm pretty clueless myself. Wouldn't catch too many without my son. Can't remember the last time I had to make a knot. We are ready and waiting. Next weekend weather permitting we are going east looking. Stay in touch

I like the Gamakatsu Saltwater HD hooks. They have a bit longer shank than the livebait hooks. This helps from the hook pulling, but is still a small hook.
Live bait hook below
http://www.shop.gamakatsu.com/bin/Products/Images/220_SMALL.GIF
here is a saltwater hook
http://www.shop.gamakatsu.com/bin/Products/Images/15_SMALL.GIF

Thanks hot reels 1 & 2 you guys are great ! Look foreward to seeing you out on the bank this yr. Jeff please leave me a fish or two out there :)