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.
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 size hooks are best for pier fishing?
sizes 4 to 2/0
Fishing Hooks
For most of the baits you’ll use, sizes 4 to 2/0 will work. Remember to select hook size based on the size of your bait.
Are circle hooks good for saltwater fishing?
Circle hooks are mostly used with live or cut fishing bait because the shape of the hook keeps it from becoming lodged in the fish’s gut. As a result, circle saltwater fishing hooks are now considered the best saltwater fishing hooks for catch-and-release fishing.
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.
Why don’t you set a circle hook?
One thing that makes them different is that circle hooks can’t be used to catch fish with traditional hooksets, as they’re intended to only catch the corner of a fish’s mouth. If you try to set the hook like you would with a j-hook, you’ll end up yanking it out of the fish’s mouth.
What is the best tackle for pier fishing?
The Best Saltwater Lures for Pier Fishing
- Hard-bodied plugs. For surface-feeding fish, the most exciting option is popping plugs.
- Bucktail jigs and soft-bodied leadhead jigs. Overall these are probably the best saltwater lures for pier fishing.
- Casting spoons and jigging spoons.
What weight should I use for pier fishing?
Fishing lines between 20lb and 30lb are a good choice. Mono line, not braid, as you will need a bit of stretch to absorb your fish’s attempts to shake itself free, and have less propensity to hang up on the pier or structure below.
What is the best time to fish off a pier?
Generally speaking, the best time to fish from a pier is either early morning or sundown. This is when moving tides attract a lot of baitfish to the area, which in turn, brings out the big and hungry of the fish world, too.
What size hook is best for saltwater fishing?
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.
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 is the best thing to fish with in saltwater?
Shrimp is a go to bait for saltwater anglers. This all-purpose bait works because shrimp are common in saltwater environments and fish are attracted to the scent and movement. Dead or alive shrimp can be used to catch fish onshore or offshore.
What is the point of a circle hook?
The circle hook’s shape allows it to only hook onto an exposed surface, which in the case of a fish means the corner of its mouth. The fish takes the baited hook and swallows it, and as the hook is reeled in, it is safely pulled out of the fish until it reaches the mouth.
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.
What size circle hook should I use?
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.
What is the best hook for snapper?
Circle hooks are highly popular for reds, and they’re perfect candidates for them given how they scoff baits and will ‘eat and run’ basically settling the hook for you. Size 7/0 to 8/0 for larger reds and 4/0 to 6/0s for smaller fish is good starting point.
Can a fish swallow a circle hook?
A circle hook is a fish hook which is sharply curved back to form a circular shape. It is rarely swallowed by the fish, though if swallowed, it can be easily pulled back.
Why are fish biting but not hooking?
You are not hooking fish because your hooks are dull, you aren’t setting the hook properly, and your bait is too big. Other common factors can be wrong hook size, and even improperly hooked bait. There can be a wide variety of reasons you are missing fish.
Should you set the hook with a circle hook?
So when fishing with circle hooks you do not set the hook. Instead you simply tighten the line and start to reel in. The pressure this creates is alone enough to get the hook stuck in the corner of the fish’s mouth. Then you can begin to fight the fish as you normally would.
What is the pound leader for pier fishing?
If you don’t have much experience with pier fishing rigs, don’t worry. Just use 20- to 30-pound fluorocarbon leader and follow the instructions for a two-hook bottom fishing rig or three-way saltwater fishing rig. Remember, part of the fun of fishing is discovering new spots and learning new rigging techniques.
Is pier fishing better at high or low tide?
High tide is definitely the best tide for pier fishing.
Conversely, low tide lowers the water level and makes it shallower and less comfortable for most species. As a result, you should expect fewer bites at that time.