for those who use gamakatsu hooks
 

out fishing a few weeks ago I drop a fish (certainly not the first) I reel in the line and the hook is broken just after the barb , I didn't think she had rubbed me but I didn't put much thought to it , then the other day i'm out and drop another fish check the hook it also is broken in the same spot , now I know we have a problem . when I got home I check the bench and I still have a couple of hooks still in the package that I have not tied up , I put a pair of plyers to them and with hardly any pressure both hooks snap in the same spot , bad batch of hooks . I have been using these hooks for 8 years and this is the first problem I ever had . going to send back to co. these were gamakatsu octopus circle hooks size 8/0 if you have these I recommend you check them .

I am done with them, but for a different reason. Had four fish hooked deep today with the offset model while livelining macks. Had a few drops too. Changed to O'Shaugnessy hooks and went 12 for 12, all in the lip or roof of the mouth. Never had the advertised safe lip hooksets with the octopus or circle hook, but that is probably pilot error.....

the inline circle is much better then the offset imo

I have had a couple Gami circles bust in the same place through the years. However i was eeling the canal and they tend to get hung up quite a bit so i never really thought much about it. Thanks for the heads up. My buddy uses the 8/0 exclusively for live-lining i will give him a heads up but i think he is still using last years stock.

Inline straight shank octo's have been good to me.
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

Gami live bait hooks are great. I've had issues with octopus, j and circle
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

Back in the late 80s someone bent an eel hook and started hooking up consistently. Dave Hammock started bending the straight shank to make them offset. That's how the offset thing got started.
We noticed a more consistent hookup but only when throwing live eels.

My buddy turned me on to them a couple years ago on block. I was using 5 or 6/0 circles and i was not getting a bite while he was hooking up every 5 casts or so. We were about 10 feet from each other. All things being equal i asked what hook he was using, those things are miniature compared to circles. I tied one on then was fish for fish with him. Im a believer now, when i am casting from shore not in an inlet or the canal that is what i use and they rock. :fishin:

Sounds like you had a bad batch but as you know Gami's have had a solid quality history. I wouldn't discontinue using any Gami hooks that you've had success in the past but I would check every hook especially in that size and style.

I have used strictly gami 7/0 octopus hooks for years now...

I tested a brand new one with pliers and mild pressure to try to bend it...

snap!

ok, try another NEW hook... SNAP

6 out of 6, from different packs, snapped like a kit-kat bar
at fat camp...

Ive never had one bend on a fish... mayb they are snapping due to the
pressure point at the tip of my pliers? just like a rod tip
will break if you flex it with your hands too close together instead of allowing
a full arc.

I still fish em, but might try the heavy in-line hooks
i

Too funny!!!! :rotf2:

Question for you guys using the gami live bait hooks, are you guys using the HD hooks? I've been using the gami live bait hooks in 5/0 size seem to be missing a few strikes should I step up to a 6/0?

i don't like the hd hooks at all, too thick. regular live bait only for me. i use 6/0 (7/0 on occasion if I have really big eels).

That was quick,Thanks for the help!

Another plug for the gami live bait hooks, I use 5/0 and 6/0.
I remember I saw "he who shall not be named" at a show a while back and said that he never used circle hooks as he didn't feel they hooked the fish well, so that got me started on the live bait style hooks and they work!

I am another one who uses the 6/0 live bait for eels. The HD are way to thick, but the regulars are great. Not cheap at all though.

I've never had a gami circle ( 6/0) break when live lining macks or bottom fishing... I have broken them on tuna...( 9/0).. I switched to Gami's back in the late 80's when eagle claw had an issue like you discribe... the hook bould break right behind the barb.. I was selling back then and they cost me quite a bit of money..... I prefer smaller hooks than most of you for eeling.. 4/0 Gami "J" hooks and I've never broke one....these are a must for me because I fish much lighter tackle in a lot shaloer water than most do...

On the offset thing... IMHO... a must for eeling... unless you want to hook your own eel 75% of the time...not sure about it for fishing macks... I've only been using them a few years ( since I stopped using trebles)... not nearly long enough to form an accurate opinion..

I use the gami octopus in 6/0 for eels and 7/0 for scup or pogies. The 7/0 had a breakage problem, I know they had a bad batch. When testing the strength of a hook make sure you are not trying to snap it by the point of the hook as that is not where a typical set takes place.

I go a size up when I find the live bait vs the HD live bait they seem to have a smaller gap then the HD I like 6/0 HD and 7/0 regular live bait.
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device