Circle Hooks

Yes, it is a predicament some times.  IMO, larger gaped circle hooks work better.  However, smaller hooks work better when live bait fishing.

  I wonder how many 30 pound butts you've lost because the #2 owner circle couldn't fit around its lip.   

-Allen

I caught a 28" halibut in capitola couple years ago on a #1 owner light mutu circle hook with a live anchovy. barbed and kirbed so not a salmon hook.

Have also used the same hooks for a variety of rockfish and spiny dogfish in capitola with a supply of anchovies on hand.  also caught a number of fish in florida with same hook.

Seems like a good hook for a live anchovy, up through the lower jaw and out the top of the nose. kinda weedless.

You definitely do not want to set the hook, just reel smoothly to pressure and then keep it up until you land the fish. setting the hook will pull the hook right out of the mouth of the fish without it ever grabbing the corner of the fish's mouth like it is supposed to do.

A lot of people don't like circle hooks tho, or use them wrong, or love to set the hook, etc. But they definitely work and are worth a try.

John

 or love to set the hook.

Yep thats me Remember Grandpa always saying you keep missing them cause ur not breaking there Jaw so I have this habit of ripping into all my fish even 6inch bluegill get yanked like a 10lb stipper as the bluegill comes flying at the kayak. LOL

I'm curious. Those who have used circle hooks for butts, do you only use one hook in the nose or do you double up with one in the nose, and one near the tail? I've never used circle hooks, but I've caught a lot of halis on the second stinger hook. Usually a treble hook.