Circle hooked gator

TeamYeeha · 02-25-2002, 12:58 PM

Broke off a monster below the 40 yesterday. Wondering if anyone else hooked or landed an 8 to 10 footer with a circle hook in his LIP. Just wondered if anyone got a good look at him?

North Rivers go anywhere. Yeeha

Fishalot · 02-25-2002, 02:51 PM

Wouldn't a circle hook be hard to remove? hope the barb was pinched or filed. That hook could stay with a fish a long time :depressed: could even cause a few problems to a big or small strug :whazzup:

Fishalot

Team'Sneakin'Out'

David Johnson · 02-25-2002, 04:57 PM

I have thought about using circle hooks for sturgeon but haven't yet.

I've caught hundreds of halibut and other bottom fish on them and you will never find a circle hook swallowed. With a quick flip of a gaff placed into the bend of the hook the fish is very easy to release.

Have you had much success using them TeamYeeha?

Fishalot · 02-25-2002, 05:49 PM

Well if David Johnson thinks circle hooks are ok then they must be :grin: Now I'm wondering how much success you have had with them also? Im thought that c hooks were real lethel? My mistake.

Fishalot

David Johnson · 02-25-2002, 05:54 PM

I always wondered if they would work on the sturgeon but never tried them since I bait up a little differently for sturgeon than I do for halibut since there is a lot more current while sturgeon fishing.

I did see an Oregon Feild Guide show on channel 10 wwere ODFW was taking samples from sturgeon they were long lining near The Dalles dam.

So they must work but I'd like to here from a sports fishermen.

TeamYeeha · 02-25-2002, 08:09 PM

Dave I think circle hooks are the way to go on the outside and they do come out easy like you say.I should have been more clear

in the river we use the Gamakatsu Octopus circle sizes 6/0 and 8/0 and they do come barbless (208416) :grin: That design lends itself to getting a good quick set.Give em a try Dave. :smile:

North Rivers go anywhere
YEEHA

STGRule · 02-25-2002, 08:32 PM

Dave: That was us on the field guide segment. We use 12/0,14/0 and 16/0 halibut circle hooks as our standard gear on the longlines. We have never hooked a fish anywhere except the lip. As long as the hook isn't rusty the fish pop right off. If the hooks are stuck we use bolt cutters to cut the shank. We just hang the bait off the hooks. No trying to hide them.

TeamYeeha · 02-25-2002, 08:47 PM

:smile: Ok since everyone talking about it 12/0 octopus circle Gamakatsu works great for oversize too.

North River boats catch more fish

Matt H. · 02-25-2002, 10:39 PM

Well.. from what little I know of circle hooks.. they are a lot LESS lethal and harmful to fish than standard.

The circle design means that the hook will NOT get hung up in the gut of the fish if it swallows it. The hook ONLY will lip hook due to the fish swimming away from the weight and the angle sets the hook in the lip.

After reading this post.. im almost kicking myself for not trying circle hooks for sturgeon. the only problem i can forsee is how to get the bait on hahah. With how frustrating it can be to hook into a sturgeon.. a circle hook might just be the thing I need.

Matt

Joe · 02-25-2002, 11:01 PM

I tried 7/0 Gamakatsu's Cirle hooks using Sand Shrimp as bait. We missed several bites on that rod while the rod right next to it with Octopus hooks hooked three fish for three bites. That ended that experiment.

Capin' Dan · 02-26-2002, 04:20 AM

After hooking neumerous Halibut and lings on circle hooks I think that I will give them a try on sturgies. Last year we had two oversize swallow our 11/0 hooks. This really disturbed me even though I hear that you just cut the line off and leave them and the fish will be alright it still leaves me feeling sad. We also caught two oversize that had hooks already in them also. Please, post more on this topic as they are field tested so more people can think about doing it. Conserve and protect our sturgeon resource while we still have it.

Dan!

Biteme · 02-26-2002, 05:53 AM

I use circle hooks alot for sturgeon and when they are biting aggresively usually they hook themselves and are hooked in the lip. The thing with circle hooks is that they have to have the bait good and if you are one of the type of people thats quick on the trigger and like to set the hook on the first wiggle you probably wont like them, if you wait until the pole actually starts a steady downward pull you will have a very good hookup ratio. They are no worse on the fish than any other hook and almost never taken deep. You should never use stainless circles or any other hook because these will not rust out and could stay in the fish forever. I dont think any circle hooks are available in barbless so dont forget to make sure the barbs are removed.
www.nwfish.com

Biteme's day off 57inch Saint Helens monday 2-25-02 circle hooks

[ 02-26-2002, 09:57 AM: Message edited by: Biteme ]

TeamYeeha · 02-26-2002, 06:10 AM

I new I wasn't the only one doing this and Matt you are right that they do less harm to the fish if swallowed. Now you guys leave some sturgies for the guys not using c hooks. Biteme try exposing your hook more for that quick hook up.

Team Yeeha rips lips :grin:

Ed · 02-26-2002, 06:59 AM

Well I can't believe it! I thought I was the only sturgeon fisherman using circles. I switched to Gama 6/0 about a year ago. Once hooked, they are on there. Always hooked in the lip too. However, setting the hook takes more patience. Biteme is correct, a quick trigger will miss the fish. Repeat after me: Work it, don't jerk it! When baiting up I thread my leader through the smelt's vent so that the circle hook is comes out from the corner of the smelt's mouth. I then just add a couple of half hiches between the vent and the tail, trim the tail off to minimize spin, add a couple of cuts to each side and add sent to the cuts. Thats it. Give circles a try. Again I recommend Gama 6/0 with the barbs pinched AND filed. Good luck

TeamYeeha · 02-26-2002, 08:02 AM

Ed you can can get Gama's Octopus style circles barbless and I like the 6/0 too. Stock # 208416. Man I should get some of these babies free for the promotion. Better call Gamakatsu before everyone buys them all. Guys you should always be able to dehook your fish and release them carfully. Not like the idiot in the green and white plastic boat fishing down by the anchor signs just throwing the small ones from the back of his boat. I should have JET roosted him.

Team Yeeha fishing to win in a North River