Originally posted by hornharvester:
Yaz,
What kind and size of circle hooks you use for stripers? Are the octopus hooks the same as circle hooks? Ive seen them labeled as circle, octopus and octopus circle. Can you tell me the difference. h.h.
Well……this is THE hotly debated topic amongst striper fishermen. I have been crucified on forums for my opinions on this. If you want to CATCH stripers, THROW the true circle hooks in the trash!
I have been catching stripers since the mid-80's. Long before true circle hooks were even a common type of hook. They probably weren't even invented then. In the early 2000's when we formed a "club", and circle hooks were the rage, I caved and bought some. I made a three year attempt to learn how to use them, and made a real effort……all in the name of conservation of striped bass.
I DOCUMENTED 2 full seasons of use, and a 3'rd season of running "side by side" tests with standard J hooks and offset octopus hooks with the others being full circles.. The premise is not to deep or gut hook fish, allowing more live releases and survival after the release. You are NOT suppose to have any kind of "hook set" with the circles, allowing the fish to pull tight, and the hook to find the corner of the jaw on its own. Well, they do work in that you have LESS fish in the boat!!! I documented at least twice as many missed fish, twice as many fish coming unbuttoned after hooked, AND just as many deep/gut hooked fish with full circle hooks!!!!!!
I don't mean to come off as a meat hunter, or somebody out to catch and keep every striper that hits. I am likely the biggest proponent of catch and release of striped bass there is. Ask Weedy, Wtlhaven, JCWhoyt, or anybody else on here I fish with. I know I have agitated a lot of new people on my boat by making them put fish back in!!! But I am also not out there just to take a boat ride either. I take it personal when I don't get fish in the boat!!!
It may be my style of fishing live bait that lends itself to NOT deep hooking fish with standard hooks. Even though I am at a controlled drift most of the time, I am typically always moving, and not having much if any slack in the lines. That in itself allows the line to come tight quicker, and not allowing the fish to swallow the bait. I just do not gut hook many fish. Not nearly enough to justify, or deal with all the cons associated with full circle hooks.
Now, I'm not saying they are bad for every style of fishing, or every type of fish. I'm sure the catfishing crowd could really benefit from using full circles, because the fish are typically allowed a little bit of run before the line comes tight.
Ok, I'll get off my soap box now!!
To answer your question……a true circle hook has the point bent and turned right back to the shank of the hook. An Octopus hook to me is a "J" hook with the eye bent back away from the gap. An Octopus circle hook has both. I use Octopus hooks exclusively now, as I snell every one on a fluorocarbon leader.