Don't Use Cheap Hooks!
 

A friend just got back from a 10-day trip to the East Cape and he spent one day targeting grouper. He normally fishes Owner or other quality hooks, but for some reason he made his grouper/bsb rigs using 100# to off-brand made in China 11/0 hooks he picked up at a swap meet.

He landed a couple around 40 lbs with no problems, but toward the end of the day he hooked into a fish of a lifetime probably in the 200+ range. He was on about 3 seconds before this happened.

Moral of the story... don't cheap out on hooks or any other gear!

http://i568.photobucket.com/albums/s...d208354289.jpg.

I have some horror stories. I was in Cabo and was on what may have been a triple digit tuna. I had been paddling next to a porpoise school. Battled it up to the surface until I saw color and then I got greedy and thumbed the spool, and the hook broke at the end in the shank. Damn Eagle Claws!!

Same here...
 

Was fishing rockfish with an AHI squid setup. Got picked up by a large fish, think it was a YT, and the hook snapped right at the bend.

Been there done that.
It really sinks in when you loose that big one.

I fought something huge in Gonzaga fishing w Sven last year for 30 mins and ended up straightening the hook right before I got it to color.

I learned cheap hooks and thumbing the spool don't mix...

Damn, that sucks. Premium hooks can be pricy but if they avoid heart breaks they're more than worth it. Mike

X2
 

Dang C _ _ _ _ _ E hooks. Ya, it don't really make sense. Generally the fish we target are what most we would consider fish of a lifetime. Worse yet, you have something that you know won't let you down like a designer hook and you revert to cheaping out on tackle on one of your more expensive fishing trips. Dropping 40$ on a pack of hooks hurts. But it is more painful dropping 10$ on a handful. I try to find the 30 pack and the individual hook price may drop to just over a 1.00$ - 1.25$ give or take.

Just so I know, an US made 100#-rated hook is supposed to not deform when fighting something 200#+?

Seems like these days, you read some inflammatory key words and people lose their logical thinking.