circle hooks for YT/WSB/Butts?
 

Is it common practice to use circle hooks for YT/WSB/Halibut? Would they be in sizes appropriate to the bait, say 3/0-7/0?
Thanks

ITS ALL MATTER OF YOUR OPTION

GENERALLY CIRLCE HOOKS NOT A GOOD IDEA

Like he said opinion, or personal preference.
I use circles and have for years. Stay away from the heavy wire Mutu or Super Mutus, you just don't need them that heavy in a kayak. Just like any other fishing, match them to your bait size.

circle are more expensive hooks

and harder to release fish/let them go you know what i mean

unless you will keep the fish

if you catch halibut and there short you hurt the fish because of the hook

circle

That's not true, Circle hooks are the best if you plan on release since they stay on the corner the mouth! For Dropper loops set ups they work very well!

Sorry for the formatting.
Steve

Taken from
<cite>www.mass.gov/dfwele/dmf/publications/circle_hooks_www_v2_111506.pdf</cite>

"Two recent DMF research projects
focused on the use of circle hooks when
using bait for striped bass and tunas. In
those experiments circle hooks showed
a reduction in the rate of potential lethal
wounding, and subsequent mortality.

Estimates of lethal wounding were
approximately 1.6 % for circle hooks and
27.5 % for j-hooks. Obviously, a consider-
able difference with circle hooks. Other
researchers have had similar results.
Researchers have also estimated the
effectiveness of circle hooks to hook fish
that took natural baits. Results indicate
that circle hooks catch slightly more fish
than j-hooks. Even untended rods caught
fish.
Because of the clear advantages of the
use of circle hooks we strongly enourage
their use by anglers. We also recommend
that anglers learn more about how these
hooks can benefit all fisheries resources.
Questions and Answers
about Circle Hooks

Q. What makes circle hooks
different from J-hooks?
A. On a true circle hook the point is
turned inward to a much greater degree
than j-hooks (see figure). Because of this
feature they must catch on an exposed
“edge” to hook the fish. The vast majority
of fish caught with circle hooks are caught
on a jaw corner. J-hook points are more
exposed and are able to lodge in a greater
variety of sites, like the stomach, gills or
esophagus.

Q. Are circle hooks more difficult
to use?
A. While it is not as easy to get the bait
onto a circle hook, by slowly rotating the
hook point into the bait you should have
fewer problems. When removing the hook
from a fish the reverse action is needed.
The hook needs to be rotated to back it out
of the fish. Since most of the fish are jaw
hooked the overall time spent removing
hooks each day should be about the same
or less than if you used j-hooks. Also, you
should lose fewer hooks to swallowing
of the bait or cutoffs from the occasional
bluefish.

Q. Do I need to modify my angling
technique to make circle hooks work
effectively?
A. Since circle hooks are designed to
penetrate the fishes jaw as the fish turns
away from the angler, we found that it is
best to let the fish run with the bait and
then stop the line to set the hook. If you
want to use the rod to set the hook at this
point you can do so, but it is not neces-
sary. An untended rod hooked fish as
effectively as our skilled anglers.

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.

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

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.

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.

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

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