Circle or J hook - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

anchovie · 08-21-2015, 02:39 AM

Was wondering what hook is used more often, circle or J style. Just curious. I have been using J hooks myself.

HobieScot · 08-21-2015, 04:40 AM

Circle hook for me. Less chance of me screwing up or missing the hook set

surfisher · 08-21-2015, 05:27 AM

Circle, just let the fish eat the bait and throw it in gear and wind down.

MITCHELL · 08-21-2015, 06:27 AM

I like a flyline J hook on the surface and a circle hook on the dropper loop

danjor · 08-21-2015, 07:51 AM

Last 2 trips out, trip with J hooks, 5 bites one brought on the boat, next trip I used circle, ended up 5 for 5 on the boat. Circle for me from now on

jorluivil · 08-21-2015, 08:02 AM

I use circle hooks for everything, I haven't landed a fish that didn't have the hook set in the corner of the mouth

MITCHELL · 08-21-2015, 09:07 AM

7 hookups on flylined J hooks 7 fish canned and smoked

PapaDave · 08-21-2015, 09:22 AM

Circle, especially if you are going to release it.

MITCHELL · 08-21-2015, 09:57 AM

GamaKatsu, flyline J hook has a long shank and thin and strong does the least amount of damage to the mackerel if it's not in the belly it's been in the corner of mouth 7x7 knock on wood same splice of 40lb florcarbon retired my hook once

yak-fishing-socal · 08-21-2015, 10:41 AM

I have always used j hooks but now might give Circle a try

sent from my thumbs on my G4

anchovie · 08-21-2015, 12:10 PM

I tied on a J hook last night but as much as I like to set the hook, now I'm thinking Circle hook.

MITCHELL · 08-21-2015, 01:20 PM

J hookreceived_817533944971471.jpg

Dirty Curti · 08-21-2015, 01:25 PM

Circle for sure. It puts it right in the corner of the lip every time.

MITCHELL · 08-21-2015, 02:04 PM

Circle received_822175247840674.jpeg

MITCHELL · 08-21-2015, 02:08 PM

Circle received_870772726314259.jpg

taggermike · 08-21-2015, 06:47 PM

I'vehonr totally to circles. They've worked well for me in pretty much all bait applications. I prefer the gamakatsu Nautilus. Or for small baits owner mutu lights. Years ago on a trip collecting yellow for brood stock for the hubbs hatchery we wanted no deep hooking so we allbused circles. I was impressed how well circles worked and have been using them since. Mike

monstahfish · 08-21-2015, 07:58 PM

I release more than half my fish so circles for me. preferably in line, not offset. Also remember not to set the hook, just engage the drag and let the hook do the work. This can be weird for people who are not used to it.

MITCHELL · 08-22-2015, 01:56 AM

Released J hookreceived_842872525770946.jpg

MITCHELL · 08-22-2015, 03:25 AM

Double JHook canned with jalapeño IMG_118887392970344.jpg

FlyFishinYakr · 08-22-2015, 05:51 AM

For me, it depends on the size bait, the expected avg. size gamefish I plan to catch and whether I plan to only keep larger specimens.
On any given day, going out "blind", I would start out with circle hooks.
If dealing with "pinhead" anchovies, I carry size 8 Mustad 9174 hooks (I don't think there's anything close to it with the same strength and size).
For really large baits and fish (150lb+ YFT/BFT) I like the Mustad 9671SS (cold forged) hooks.
I also like them on ALL my jigs (if they're not already so equipped) and I use them exclusively on ALL my trolling jigs.
FFY

08-21-2015, 02:39 AM	#1
anchovie Member Join Date: Aug 2015 Posts: 49	Circle or J hook Was wondering what hook is used more often, circle or J style. Just curious. I have been using J hooks myself.

08-21-2015, 06:27 AM	#4
MITCHELL Sea Hunter Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Where ever I may roam where I lay my head I call home. Posts: 2,251	I like a flyline J hook on the surface and a circle hook on the dropper loop __________________ Duke Mitchell

08-21-2015, 08:02 AM	#6
jorluivil Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 6,855	I use circle hooks for everything, I haven't landed a fish that didn't have the hook set in the corner of the mouth __________________ www.facebook.com/Teamsewer

08-21-2015, 09:07 AM	#7
MITCHELL Sea Hunter Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Where ever I may roam where I lay my head I call home. Posts: 2,251	7 hookups on flylined J hooks 7 fish canned and smoked __________________ Duke Mitchell

08-21-2015, 09:22 AM	#8
PapaDave Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Menifee, CA Posts: 1,455	Circle, especially if you are going to release it. __________________ So long and thanks for all the fish...

08-21-2015, 04:40 AM	#2
HobieScot Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2015 Posts: 370	Circle hook for me. Less chance of me screwing up or missing the hook set

08-21-2015, 05:27 AM	#3
surfisher Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: Carlsbad Posts: 388	Circle, just let the fish eat the bait and throw it in gear and wind down.

08-21-2015, 07:51 AM	#5
danjor Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Riverside CA Posts: 673	Last 2 trips out, trip with J hooks, 5 bites one brought on the boat, next trip I used circle, ended up 5 for 5 on the boat. Circle for me from now on

08-21-2015, 09:57 AM	#9
MITCHELL Sea Hunter Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Where ever I may roam where I lay my head I call home. Posts: 2,251	GamaKatsu, flyline J hook has a long shank and thin and strong does the least amount of damage to the mackerel if it's not in the belly it's been in the corner of mouth 7x7 knock on wood same splice of 40lb florcarbon retired my hook once __________________ Duke Mitchell

08-21-2015, 10:41 AM	#10
yak-fishing-socal kayak fishing socal Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: Southern California / Whittier Posts: 438	I have always used j hooks but now might give Circle a try sent from my thumbs on my G4

08-21-2015, 12:10 PM	#11
anchovie Member Join Date: Aug 2015 Posts: 49	I tied on a J hook last night but as much as I like to set the hook, now I'm thinking Circle hook.

08-21-2015, 01:20 PM	#12
MITCHELL Sea Hunter Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Where ever I may roam where I lay my head I call home. Posts: 2,251	J hookreceived_817533944971471.jpg __________________ Duke Mitchell

08-21-2015, 01:25 PM	#13
Dirty Curti Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Oceanside, CA Posts: 419	Circle for sure. It puts it right in the corner of the lip every time. __________________

08-21-2015, 02:04 PM	#14
MITCHELL Sea Hunter Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Where ever I may roam where I lay my head I call home. Posts: 2,251	Circle received_822175247840674.jpeg __________________ Duke Mitchell

08-21-2015, 02:08 PM	#15
MITCHELL Sea Hunter Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Where ever I may roam where I lay my head I call home. Posts: 2,251	Circle received_870772726314259.jpg __________________ Duke Mitchell

08-21-2015, 06:47 PM	#16
taggermike Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Chula Vista Posts: 1,589	I'vehonr totally to circles. They've worked well for me in pretty much all bait applications. I prefer the gamakatsu Nautilus. Or for small baits owner mutu lights. Years ago on a trip collecting yellow for brood stock for the hubbs hatchery we wanted no deep hooking so we allbused circles. I was impressed how well circles worked and have been using them since. Mike

08-21-2015, 07:58 PM	#17
monstahfish Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Posts: 406	I release more than half my fish so circles for me. preferably in line, not offset. Also remember not to set the hook, just engage the drag and let the hook do the work. This can be weird for people who are not used to it.

08-22-2015, 01:56 AM	#18
MITCHELL Sea Hunter Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Where ever I may roam where I lay my head I call home. Posts: 2,251	Released J hookreceived_842872525770946.jpg __________________ Duke Mitchell

08-22-2015, 03:25 AM	#19
MITCHELL Sea Hunter Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Where ever I may roam where I lay my head I call home. Posts: 2,251	Double JHook canned with jalapeño IMG_118887392970344.jpg __________________ Duke Mitchell

08-22-2015, 05:51 AM	#20
FlyFishinYakr Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Nor Cal...30 min from Bodega/Tomales Bay, 1hr from Clear Lake, 2+ hr to Berryessa & the Delta Posts: 729	For me, it depends on the size bait, the expected avg. size gamefish I plan to catch and whether I plan to only keep larger specimens. On any given day, going out "blind", I would start out with circle hooks. If dealing with "pinhead" anchovies, I carry size 8 Mustad 9174 hooks (I don't think there's anything close to it with the same strength and size). For really large baits and fish (150lb+ YFT/BFT) I like the Mustad 9671SS (cold forged) hooks. I also like them on ALL my jigs (if they're not already so equipped) and I use them exclusively on ALL my trolling jigs. FFY