What hook?

[Davey-m]

Manta 2/0 extras had loads a good codling on them upto 7lb. Good for worm or small crab, squid, bluey cocktails strong decent gape, but not to big to act as an Archor in mixed ground.

If am going big Baits and exclusively cod then 3\0 & 4/0 majority of the time but always keep some 6\0 long shanks incase a full squid, bluey or cuttle fish needs to go on in January.

[bandit]

Mustad Vikings 4/0 or 6/0 been using them since the 80's never let me down

[mooseboy65]

I always use sakuma 545 manta xtras 4/0 5/0,i wouldn't buy the 540 mantas,there s**t.

[mooseboy65]

Mustad Vikings 4/0 or 6/0 been using them since the 80's never let me down

was just gonna mention them,good strong hooks,1 plus point compared to the manta extra is thet the eye on the mustad Vikings is slightly smaller,i tend to bost a lot of worm takin it over eye of the sakuma

[Raptor1]

What Hook this Winter.

Your going to miss a lot of smaller fish and waste a lot of time in match!! As for spinning baits it's down to your sinker/clip choice. If distance is everything then the bent eye all in one clips seem to work well on namix leads. The same leads with separate eye and clip seem to cause spinning on a bulky crab bait. It also helps if you can get a bit of tension onto the hook length.

Agreed totally,just about sums the fish hook up ratio and distance casting side of things up.As for mantas and big mouths being the same hook and as good as each other,there not,they have totally different tempers in the materials,the softer big mouth bends slightly and springs, out of snags,the harder temper mantas hooks just snap on being snagged.

Extra versions of both hooks dont bend or snap easily,and lose you end tackle needlessly.There are no shore fish swimming in UK waters that require the use of the "Extra" versions of boths hooks.Largest size ordinary big mouth 5/0, has a recored 220lb UK skate landed to its record .Finally as we dont have so many abundant huge bait swallowing fish north of the tyne, we cant rely waiting on hooked fish to get our end gear
back everytime.

Before anyone asks,I use only Big Mouths of different sizes for my winter fishing clean and rough ground around the UK.Big mouth Extras and Owner circles where required on my trips abroad.

[big phil 123]

Your going to miss a lot of smaller fish and waste a lot of time in match!! As for spinning baits it's down to your sinker/clip choice. If distance is everything then the bent eye all in one clips seem to work well on namix leads. The same leads with separate eye and clip seem to cause spinning on a bulky crab bait. It also helps if you can get a bit of tension onto the hook length.

Cheers mate I thought it was just the short stumpy bait that caused it will try a different lead. I only pleasure fish except the odd open but in a match I would use a smaller hook agree there. But I was suprised messing about in the tyne how small the fish were that swallowed 6/0 hooks.

[droida]

Uptide mustard viking 6/0. Get good size bait also strong wih a lil bit flex and sharp as out

[Garronb90]

Chearz for all the replies lads.going to go with the mantas but when i had a look online at the 4/0 and 6/0s there numbered 540 for the 4/0s and 545 for the 6/0s and a 5a diference in price for 50.can anyone tell me the diference please

[CHUKKA]

The 540 or varivas big mouths only go up to a 5/0. The 545 or big mouth extra ie heavier wire go up to around 8/0

[Raptor1]

Varivas bigmouths

Your choice on which hook you choose but worth remembering a standard 30 box of bigmouths plus postage and packing to your door is still cheaper than a box of mantas.

[codseeker]

4-6/0 manta xtras even a undersize cod wud get them down no bother

[Ian Alexander]

Hello,
I use Mustad big eyes most of the time. Sizes 1/0 to 4/0 depending on my size of bait.

When I'm fishing the cliffs I use the bigger Mantas.

Regards Ian

[waco]

Mustad Vikings 4/0 or 6/0 been using them since the 80's never let me down

now your talking mate , old faithfulls never ever been let down by these hooks