circle hooks for YT/WSB/Butts? - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

dorado50 · 01-27-2009, 03:48 PM

Very good write-up. My basic methodology is: When target fish is marlin or larger tuna circle hooks a must but when targeting yellowtail or WSB I go for the kill with J hooks.

taggermike · 01-27-2009, 06:39 PM

I grew up fishing locally and all we had was J hooks back then. So that's what I used. My mind was changed about circles when I went on a brood stock collecting trip for the Hubbs-SeaWorld hatchery. We were targeting yellow tail and it made since to use the circles as we wanted the best chance to land the fish alive and as healthy as possible. I went 4 for 5 that day on 20lb fish and every fish I landed was pinned perfectly in the corner of the mouth. That experience really changed my mind about circles. I use light wire circle almost exclusively for all my live and dead bait fishing now and am happy with my results. For local LJ I like to use 2/0 to maybe 4/0. That size seams right for most of the fin baits there. Mike

rogersmith · 01-28-2009, 08:38 AM

thanks for all the info. I have a stash of circle hooks from fishing east coast for striped bass, etc. I do find it reduces gut hooking enormously, glad to hear they fit into tactics for YT and other species here.

Billy V · 01-28-2009, 02:04 PM

I use circle hooks most of the time. Its a good way to fish live bait from a kayak, no swing necessary to set the hook.

They almost always hook the corner of the mouth if you allow the fish to eat the bait and swim away with bait in mouth for 5 seconds.... then engage the reel.

Rolo · 01-28-2009, 05:49 PM

I have to side with those that use circle hooks. I have been using them for years here on the east coast fishing for flounder and red fish. I use circle hooks for just about everything now. I catch pompano, black drum whiting and sometimes sheephead. I do really well with circles and gut hooked fish just don't seem to happen. This is very true while fishing for the reds. I also feel like I do better on flounder due to the fact that the fish are nearly always hooked in the corner of the mouth. Fewer lost fish. Never had a problem with releasing fish. They work for me.

Rolo

tthor · 01-29-2009, 05:26 AM

I have been using circles the last few years and find that I miss less fish. Let the fish run, put the reel in gear, let the line come tight and don't swing, the hook sets itself. With J hooks, I have swung to set the hook when I thought I was tight but failed to get a good hook set.

Tom

01-27-2009, 03:48 PM	#1
dorado50 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: La Jolla Shores Posts: 1,626	Very good write-up. My basic methodology is: When target fish is marlin or larger tuna circle hooks a must but when targeting yellowtail or WSB I go for the kill with J hooks.

01-27-2009, 06:39 PM	#2
taggermike Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Chula Vista Posts: 1,589	I grew up fishing locally and all we had was J hooks back then. So that's what I used. My mind was changed about circles when I went on a brood stock collecting trip for the Hubbs-SeaWorld hatchery. We were targeting yellow tail and it made since to use the circles as we wanted the best chance to land the fish alive and as healthy as possible. I went 4 for 5 that day on 20lb fish and every fish I landed was pinned perfectly in the corner of the mouth. That experience really changed my mind about circles. I use light wire circle almost exclusively for all my live and dead bait fishing now and am happy with my results. For local LJ I like to use 2/0 to maybe 4/0. That size seams right for most of the fin baits there. Mike

01-28-2009, 08:38 AM	#3
rogersmith Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 465	thanks for all the info. I have a stash of circle hooks from fishing east coast for striped bass, etc. I do find it reduces gut hooking enormously, glad to hear they fit into tactics for YT and other species here.

01-28-2009, 02:04 PM	#4
Billy V Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Bay Ho Posts: 1,382	I use circle hooks most of the time. Its a good way to fish live bait from a kayak, no swing necessary to set the hook. They almost always hook the corner of the mouth if you allow the fish to eat the bait and swim away with bait in mouth for 5 seconds.... then engage the reel.

01-28-2009, 05:49 PM	#5
Rolo Junior Join Date: May 2008 Location: North Carolina Posts: 5	I have to side with those that use circle hooks. I have been using them for years here on the east coast fishing for flounder and red fish. I use circle hooks for just about everything now. I catch pompano, black drum whiting and sometimes sheephead. I do really well with circles and gut hooked fish just don't seem to happen. This is very true while fishing for the reds. I also feel like I do better on flounder due to the fact that the fish are nearly always hooked in the corner of the mouth. Fewer lost fish. Never had a problem with releasing fish. They work for me. Rolo

01-29-2009, 05:26 AM	#6
tthor Junior Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 21	I have been using circles the last few years and find that I miss less fish. Let the fish run, put the reel in gear, let the line come tight and don't swing, the hook sets itself. With J hooks, I have swung to set the hook when I thought I was tight but failed to get a good hook set. Tom