Circles are particularly good when deep water reef fishing and bites are hard to feel. We have found them to be very successful on bottom dwelling species like Snapper and Trag, But they also work well with pelagic species like Mackerel and Tuna.
What hooks are best for mackerel?
2/0 hooks are the best all around hook size for surf fishing. A 2/0 circle hook will catch smaller fish like whiting and pompano but are also big enough to catch bluefish, mackerel, fluke, flounder, redfish, snook and tarpon too.
When should you not use a circle hook?
Anglers must always use a non-offset circle hook when live-lining or chumming; In March and April when using fish, crabs or worms as bait or when using processed baits, while not live-lining or chumming, anglers must either use a: Non-offset circle hook, or. J-Hook with a gap equal to or less than 1/2″
What fish can you catch with circle hooks?
Circle hooks have been shown to increase the survival of angler released fish. With their success already proven for many game fish species, these hooks are now used increasingly for many other common recreational species including bream, flathead and kingfish.
What are circle sea hooks used for?
Circle hooks are designed to hook fish in the corner of the mouth. Studies have shown you are less likely to deep hook (or gut hook) a fish when using a circle hook versus a “J” hook.
What is the best time of day to catch mackerel?
The best time to catch mackerel is dusk or dawn and at high tide. Spring high tides are often the best as they push bait fish closer into shore and the mackerel follow them in. Mackerel can be caught anytime, however.
What depth do you fish mackerel?
Mackerel generally remain at the same depth which is between 8ft to 20ft. They also generally stay quite close to cliffs and walls. If you’re fishing from a pier then you will probably only need to be casting out between 5 to 30 yards.
Which is better circle hook or J hook?
Closed gape hooks (circle hooks) generally hold fish better than open gape hooks. J hooks generally need to ‘set’ meaning you have to strike (pull the rod up sharply) when you feel the bite, or if the fish swallow the bait. They can be more effective if you’re trying to hide a hook in a bigger bait.
Do circle hooks snag less?
Circle hooks are also much less likely to snag bottom or debris. Also, fish with sharp teeth are less likely to cut the line as they are hooked in the corner of the mouth.
Do you need to set the hook with circle hooks?
The key difference between using traditional “J” hook patterns and circle hook patterns is that you don’t strike to set the hook when using a circle hook rig. Basically, in the majority of situations you just let the fish hook itself.
Are circle hooks Self setting?
Instead, simply let the line come tight and fight the fish. The circle hook is designed to set itself as the fish tries to swim away.
What’s the difference between circle hooks and octopus hooks?
Octopus hooks are like circle or j hooks, except that the eye is bent backwards. This is so that if you’re snelling the hook, the line can go straight down to the backside of the shank.
What size circle hook is best?
For smaller baitfish, like a threadfin or finger mullet, I like to use a #2, #1, or 1/0 circle hook. For larger, tougher baitfish, like big pinfish or croakers, I’ll go with a 3/0 to 5/0 circle hook. No matter what bait you’re using, it’s important to match the size of the hook with the size of the bait.
Are circle hooks good for pier fishing?
The short and confident answer is YES. Circle hooks are great for surf fishing. The automatic hook-sets they provide without gut hooking the fish make them the way to go for novice surf anglers and those who want to release some of their catches alive.
Are the mackerel in yet 2022?
The 2022 Mackerel Hook & Line fishery is to open by Fisheries Management Notice for all eligible vessels under 15 metres in length overall on 1st May 2022.
Why can’t I catch mackerel?
Try letting the lure or feathers sink a little longer before retrieving if you’re not getting bites – you’ll find mackerel feeding both near the surface and near the bottom, so working out where they’re hanging out is key to getting a good haul. Work the water column until you find them.
What kind of lures do mackerel like?
Best Lures for Spanish Mackerel
- Aerodynamic and shiny, casting spoons like those made by Kastmaster, Krocodile and Hopkins make a perfect match for glass minnows, a favorite mackerel snack.
- Similar to the flashy spoons, lures like small diamond jigs and Gotchas have fooled many Spanish.
What month is mackerel season?
Mackerel is a migrating fish and it swims in large shoals near the surface. During the winter season, the fish live near the seabed off the southwest coast of Norway, and in this period they eat very little. This changes between April and May, when the mackerel swim to the central parts of the North Sea to spawn.
What are J hooks used for?
They are used to support sensitive cables and can protect cables from pulling. The J-hooks provide an economical way to hang cables, and can be combined with other Orbit industries’ fasteners to provide attachment for cables to variety of structures, such as beams, purlins or rods.
What’s the difference between a circle hook and a regular hook?
A circle hook’s point bends inwards. Its point is meant to grab a fish by the corner of the mouth when it is reeled in. Unlike a circle hook, the point of a traditional, or j hook, points straight up. It is meant to jab into a fish’s mouth with the force of the bite, or a solid hookset.
Can you replace treble hooks with circle hooks?
I took the two treble hooks off and replaced them with one 9/0 circle hook in the back. All that I did to make it an inline hook was double the split rings. If you only used one ring, then the hook would be pointing out to the side. BUT if you use two split rings, then the hook is perfectly in line.