Picking the right fishing hook for the fish you are targeting and the conditions you are fishing under.

1. Understanding Hooks
Size, Scale, and Sustainability…

2. Gauge
 The ‘Weight’ of a hook is its ‘Gauge’
 Thin wire hooks have a light gauge
 Heavier wire means stronger hooks and larger gauge.

3. Light Wire
 Wire Hooks for Let Your Bait Swim Naturally
 Wire Hooks Penetrate Faster than a Heavier Hook
 Great for Open Water and Very Natural Presentations.
 However Might Bend

5. Heavier Gauge Hooks
 Much Stronger
 Great for Heavier Fish
 Great for Fishing Near Structure
 They Do Not Bend Like Light Wire Hooks
 But heavier weight often has negative impact on live bait and
causes it to not act naturally.

6. Pick the Right Hook
 There are NO RULES in Fishing
 Lighter baits benefit from lighter wire
 Heavier baits and tough conditions benefit from heavier gauge hooks
 Fine balance between gauge and presentation

7. The Points on Your Hooks
 There are two major varieties of hooks
 The first are “Needle Points”
 The second are special “Cutting Points”

8. Cutting Point Fails
 Cutting Points Literally Cut a Fish’s mouth
 Fish like trout with soft mouths can be cut
 The whole left by the sharp point can result in lost fish.

9. Needle Points
 Best for fish with soft mouths
 Pointed and Rounded
 Once it penetrates it does not leave a gash

10. Cutting Points Successes
 Redfish
 Sheepshead
 Any species with tough mouths or teeth
 Much easier to set the hook

11. Offset vs. InLine Hooks

12. Offset Hooks
 Look down the shank
 The point of the hook will not align
 The offset of the hook point to the shank is what classifed it
 They are common among commercial anglers

13. Which is best?
 Tournaments do not allow the use of offset hooks
 Some states – Florida included – make them illegal in state (but not federal)
waters
 Be sure to check the package; they do not always tell you and you have to
look to see

14. Offset Eyes
 The Eyes of hooks can also be offset (or inset).
 To Work Properly They Require a “Snell” Knot

15. Long and Short Shanks
 Long Shank acts as a buffer for fish with very sharp teeth
 Wire is popular but can be seen by some pelagics
 Long shanks and thin wire is the key
 Works great for live bait

16. Understanding Hooks
Comments and Questions for the Team