Sea Fishing Hooks

Several types of hooks are commonly used for sea fishing, including circle hooks, J hooks, and Aberdeen hooks. Different rigs, such as Texas rigs, Carolina rigs, and weedless rigs, are used with various hook types to present baits and lures effectively, especially in challenging environments.

• Aberdeen Hooks: Thin-wire, long-shank hooks ideal for worm baits and flatfish. Aberdeen hooks are popular for both shore and boat fishing when using worm baits. The Kamasan Aberdeen is a versatile, all-round option, highly regarded by sea anglers for its effectiveness with various bait types and its long shank, making it easy to remove from fish.
• Limerick Style Short Shank Hooks: Traditional design with a short shank, well-known among sea anglers. Particularly suitable for crab bait rigging, this classic pattern is effective for presenting crab baits and is often compared to other short shank patterns like the Kamasan B900C and B940S.
• Long Shank Hooks: Perfect for worm baits and general shore fishing.
• Bait Holder Hooks: Equipped with barbs on the shank to secure softer baits.
• Circle Hooks: Designed to reduce deep hooking, ideal for catch and release and larger predators.
• J Hooks: Classic all-round hooks suitable for various species and baits. J hooks are the most popular all-round hook profile among sea anglers.
• O'Shaughnessy Hooks: Heavy-gauge, forged hooks designed for landing larger species. These are ideal for presenting big baits like whole mackerel heads, squid, or spider crabs, and are strong enough to handle conger eels and big game fish.
• Crab Hooks: Wide gape and short shank hooks tailored for rigging crab baits.
• Beaked Hooks & Offset Hooks: Provide better bait presentation and hook alignment.
• Jig Hooks: Used with soft lures for saltwater jig fishing.
• Treble Hooks: Feature three points and are commonly used on hard lures and metal lures for improved hook-up rates.
• Match Hooks: Fine wire hooks for small species like whiting and flatfish. Match hooks are an important part of terminal tackle, and choosing the right pattern, size, and strength is crucial for effective fish landing, durability, and compatibility with bait and fishing conditions, especially in saltwater scenarios.

Understanding hook sizes is essential. Hook sizes are not complicated: larger numbers indicate smaller hooks, while smaller numbers (or numbers followed by /0, such as 1/0, 2/0) indicate larger hooks. For small species like whiting and flatfish, sizes 4 to 1 are suitable, while sizes 1/0 to 6/0 cater to larger species such as cod, bass, and rays. Sizes above 6/0 are typically reserved for sharks and other big game fish. However, hook sizes are supposed to be standard, but various manufacturers may have their own interpretation of sizes.

For cod fishing, hook sizes between 3/0 and 6/0 are commonly used, depending on bait size and fish size. Strong patterns like J hooks, circle hooks, or heavy-duty hooks are recommended. These hooks offer the durability and strength needed to handle the powerful fight of cod, especially when using larger baits such as whole squid, mackerel strips, or peeler crab. These are considered large baits and require appropriately sized, heavy-wire hooks. The choice of hook pattern also affects bait presentation and hooking efficiency; for instance, circle hooks are favoured for reducing deep hooking and promoting catch and release, while J hooks provide a traditional, reliable hook set.

Additionally, anglers targeting cod often prefer hooks with a sturdy hook shank and a wide gape to accommodate bulkier baits and ensure a secure hook hold. Uptide hooks are strong, thick-gauge, short-shank hooks that are particularly useful for catching big fish like cod. Using the right hook size and pattern tailored to cod fishing can significantly increase your chances of landing more fish and improve your overall fishing experience.

It's also important to maintain your hooks, as they can become blunt after snagging or prolonged use. Using a hook sharpener can restore its sharpness and help ensure you don't miss bites due to a dull point.

Circle hooks reduce the chances of deep hooking, making hook removal easier and supporting catch-and-release practices. They are especially effective for larger species and predators, as their unique design causes the hook to catch in the corner of the fish's mouth rather than deeper in the throat. This not only minimises injury to the fish but also improves the survival rate after release.

Additionally, circle hooks often allow anglers to avoid striking aggressively, as the hook tends to set itself when the fish takes the bait and swims away. This makes them a preferred choice for ethical anglers focused on sustainable fishing and protecting fish populations.

Bait holder hooks have barbs on the shank that keep soft baits like worms or squid securely in place, preventing them from sliding off during casting or retrieval. These barbs grip the bait firmly, which is especially useful when using delicate or slippery baits that might otherwise fall off on the cast or while fighting a fish. Bait holder hooks are favoured by many sea anglers who want to maintain bait presentation for longer periods without having to frequently re-bait. However, the barbs can cause more damage to the bait and fish, so they are generally preferred when the goal is to keep the bait intact for eating rather than catch and release. They come in various sizes and are suitable for different species, making them a versatile choice for both shore fishing and boat fishing scenarios.