Circle Hooks

[Mr. Sandman]

It has taken me 3 years to become a full convert to the circle hook. IMO for bait of anykind (live or dead) this is the way to go no question. You simply reel in the fish. Everytime in the corner of the mouth. Rarely do you gut hook.
Having used the gami oct circle hooks for the first two years, yast year I tried all the different brands gami/ diaichi/ owner and a coupld other brands. I have to say I like the Owner just a little bit better. Both are top quality hooks, Diaichi (I know I have the spelling wrong) is a great hook too. There is little difference between those I mentioned. Owner has a slightly wider gap and thinner wire. Both are increably strong and equally sharp. The Owner come in both stright and bent eye...I don't prefer a snelled hook while live bait fishing...(some guys do) therefore I like the in-line straight hook. (you can get them either way) Size...8/0. I carry 5/0-9/0 but I mostly use 8/0 from the boat. When I surf fish with eels I may back down to a 6/0 or 7/0 depending on whats running but they are pretty big hooks.



You can use these on bluefish too. I had pretty good luck with blues using them (robbing bass eels) but with any bluefish add a small wire leader if that is your target species)

from left to right, Gami 6/0 Owner 6/0 Owner 8/0.

Oh, let me add, the more exposed the gap the better IMO. I generally don't bury the hook in the bait, I hook the bait leaving the point exposed as much as possible. Most of my fishing is live bait and I just hook it enought to keep the hook in...the fish is going to eat the entire bait.