What fishing hook should I use?
Fishing Hooks come in a wide range of types and sizes and can be used to target a wide range of fish species in both fresh and saltwater in Australia. It is critical to select the appropriate hook for your intended target fish, which leads to another set of questions to help you decide what type of hook is the best hook for fishing in your scenario.
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What kind of bait are you going to use? - Because different hook styles are better suited to different bait types and there is no one size fits all fishing hook, we urge customers to purchase a selection of hooks so they are prepared for every situation and any bait. The key is to make the bait appear as natural as possible, allowing it to swim or move freely without being hampered by the fishing hook. It is critical to match the fishing hook style and size to the bait you will be using, ensuring that the bait is secure and the fishing hook barb is well-positioned. If you're bait fishing with worms, a long shank hook is a good choice; if you're fishing using prawns, a conventional J hook in a suicide or baitholder is a better choice; and for larger strip baits, a circular hook will present your bait the best to the fish.
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What species are you after? - You should consider not just the size of your target fish species, but also where they feed in the water column, if they have sharp teeth, and the size of their mouth. Smaller hooks work well for whiting, bream, luderick, and garfish, while larger hooks work well for flathead, barramundi, snapper, and coral trout.
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What method of fishing will you use? – Many fishing hooks have been created with a specific fishing strategy in mind, whether you will be fishing with bait, flicking soft plastic lures, or working hardbody lures. Standard J type, Circle, or even gang hooks are ideal for bait fishing and may be used for everything from float fishing the estuaries for your mainstay species, tailor off the beaches, or bottom bashing for reef fish offshore. If lure fishing is more your style, jig heads for securing soft plastics and treble hooks for hardbodies are the best hook to use.
J Hook vs Circle Hook?
Two of the most common types of fishing hooks, the J hook and the circle hook, both deserve a place in your tackle box.
- J Style - As the name implies, the J hook is fashioned like a J and is the most frequent and adaptable type of hook; if you prefer to set the hook aggressively, this is the hook for you. With a J hook, the fish can be pinned everywhere, with deep hook sets in the fish's abdomen becoming common after the bait is swallowed. When utilising J hooks, keep a watch on your leader line because a deep hook set will allow your line to come into touch with the fish's teeth, increasing the danger of bite offs.
- Circle hooks have been a game changer in the sport, with a distinctive circular form and inward facing barb that ensures 99% of hook ups are positioned in the corner of the jaw. Instead of forcing the hook into the fish, simply let it take the bait and slowly wind your reel until the rod loads and the fish is hooked. Circle hooks are ideal for sustainable fishing and are the best hook for catch-and-release anglers.
What does the fishing hook size mean?
Newcomers to the sport may be intimidated by the many hook sizes and the intricate numbering that is used to separate them. In the case of smaller hooks, the size of the hook decreases as the number increases; for example, a size 18 hook is smaller than a size 8 hook, and a size 8 hook is smaller than a size 1 hook. When it comes to larger hooks, the number system is reversed and is likewise represented with a /0 (pronounced aught), so a 1/0 hook is smaller than a 9/0 hook, and a 9/0 hook is smaller than a 12/0 hook.
