Circle hooks for Halibut

WP · 03-05-2003, 10:09 PM

Where do you all get your circle hooks in large sizes? Do any of you have any specific information or recomendations. I have always used j hooks but am thinking of switching to circles and giving them a try.
WP

[ 03-05-2003, 11:10 PM: Message edited by: WP ]

Fishplay · 03-06-2003, 03:21 AM

Sportsmans Warehouse had them in 16/0 and very reasonably priced when they first opened.

Try em.............you'll like em.

Aint no fish gonna staighten out or break a circle hook.

My boat lost a couple monster butts on J hooks last year. Now I won't fish anything but circles.

This didn't used to be so much an issue on the Oregon coast but the average size FB has increased the last couple years.

Popeye · 03-06-2003, 05:24 AM

WP...ditto on Sportsman's Warehouse, that's where I get mine too

03-06-2003, 05:31 AM

Mustad 39965 16/0 Circle Hooks

WP · 03-06-2003, 05:39 AM

I tried sportsmans last week and the largest they had were 8/0s. I will try ordering them on-line. Thanks all.
WP

Albacore Tuna Captain · 03-06-2003, 05:57 AM

Hey Popeye, I've never used circle hooks and I'm wondering how difficult they are to bait and do you think they stay better?

03-06-2003, 06:06 AM

ATC,
I've only used circle hooks for longline fishing, but having baited what seems like 100,000,000 of them, I can say that they aren't hard to bait.

If you use them you don't want to do a hook set like with J hooks. Just tighten the line, the fish and the hook do the set for you.

Popeye · 03-06-2003, 06:13 AM

Mike,
That's all they use in Alaska. I went away from them for a while, but after losing some monsters at the boat, I went back to them. You fish em a little different, like Keta says, but they are truly fantastic, haven't lost one since. Hey I'm going to be on the boat tonite, come on over for a whiskey and I'll show you how I set up.

03-06-2003, 06:23 AM

Popeye,
When I lived in SE Alaska I prefered 10/0 J hooks for sport fishing (riged in tandom like a mooching rig w/100lb leader). But we were only fishing in 10-25 fa. I can see the need for circle hooks in the depths you have to fish off the Oregon coast.

Threemuch · 03-06-2003, 06:30 AM

WP-
I have a bunch of 20/0 and 16/0 circles rigged up on 15" 170 pound coated steel leader and 200 pound mono that I bought through Seattle Marine. Englunds has em too. I switched from J to circle last year, and for deep water, I aint going back.

I can set you up the first weekend we head out.
KB

Mr. Fisherman · 03-06-2003, 07:06 AM

WP, I stock up at Englunds. They will ship and you can order on the web or by phone.
I likes my circle hooks.
Keta, I'd like to see one of those tandem rigs you are talking about.
As far as baiting them it just takes some playing with. I like to put two hearing on my 16/0 and tie them down with stretchy string, like Pilar showed me. I have had VERY FEW 700 to 850 foot bait checks since I started using this technique.

skein · 03-06-2003, 09:22 AM

Seems I remember someone talking about using shad for hali's. I took some to Canada last year but never got a real chance to put them to the test. I'm going to try it down here this year though. I usually keep a bunch for crab bait (not Crabbait - but crab bait - the spiney kind), and this year I'm going to stock up on the smaller ones and see how they work for FB's.

Lace a 16/0 circle through one of them and I'll bet you'll be good to go. Besides, they're a hoot to catch. I'll have an open seat during shad season (Umpqua) if anybody wants to go. Great fishing for kids, too, up to about 90 years of age. :grin:

Skein

Pitch Pocket · 03-06-2003, 09:43 AM

How fast is the drift off Newport fishing halibut? If you are in a pack of boats as deep as you have to go (400-600'), do you have time to feed them the circle hook before you pull away or tangle someones line?

puffins crew · 03-06-2003, 10:20 AM

Depending on the wind, the drift can be very quick at the chicken ranch. We have had to back into the swell at times.

We have not had to worry about "feeding" the FBs when fishing circles. The rig hits bottom, reel up about two or three cranks, and its FB and an orange drink, please. The action can be very fast and furious.

One of the problems we have had on the Puffin is having three or four fish on at once. :grin: And keeping our stuff out of each others way. Nice problem to have.

We baked us some Halibut the other night, and the better half reminded me that we are just about out, and need to reup our supply.

I sure do love that woman.

Peace, Tom

tailchaser · 03-06-2003, 12:43 PM

Nope, man these tuna people, tuna brain disease I tell ya.
:grin:
tc

tailchaser · 03-06-2003, 11:49 PM

Hey skein that was ME!!!!! A couple of years ago we tried using shad becuase they're more or less an overgrown herring and they work great. They're nasty and oily and stay on the hook like rubber. Plus the fish seem to attack the thing. There's definitely no slow bite about it. It doesn't really matter on the size of the shad because I fillet them out and cut about three chunks to a fillet. Occassionally I'll tip it with a herring or a squid for some seasoning, but 75% of the time it's straight shad. I always make sure I have some in the freezer every year for the hali's.

I also have one other thing I do for the 'buts, however I'm saving that for the TA meeting next weekend. An old commercial told me to try it and I've played with it for the last two years and my rod has outfished the rest of the boat 2/1 during that time.

tc

Popeye · 03-06-2003, 11:55 PM

TC.....could it have anything to do with a Tuna Head :grin:

WP · 03-07-2003, 10:19 AM

Thanks Kurt!
The dates are getting nearer! I have been a rockpiler and not been to the ranch or Halibut Hill in many years...I am working on muscle tone already, for the long pulls! Look forward to fishing with you again!
WP