help hooking fish

[adam123]

could anybody help me i was fishing cullercoats pier today and had lot of bites but didnt hook anything at all please could somebody help me

[big sid]

Hook size might have something to do with it, if your using a large hook try a smaller size/different pattern hook. Bait could be masking your hook. Or it could be a bad case of the crabs.

[The Great Wallsendo]

Could be a couple of things...hook size in proportions to the size of the actual fish that are chewing your bait for one...

I often switch to small hooked rigs if I'm getting bites but no hook ups....depends if you want to hook into the little buggers in the first place I suppose.

Or it could be striking too early? I try and let the bite develop and let the fish hook itself if I can - I'm not a huge fan of the huge strikes that send your rod back at 100mph...the only time a quick retrieve is really required is if you're fishing the really rocky/kelpy ground (which I suppose Cullercoats qualifies)

[Lowrider]

Or could be crabs nicking the bait.
Used to drive me nuts that till i figured it out.

[The Great Wallsendo]

http://www.nesa.co.uk/junior-section/how-to-spot-bites/index.1.html

very clever advice on the link above

[codseeker]

i fished monday night on roker not the problem hooking the fish it was when i hooked into a fish about 2lb mark as it surfaced it shook its head and away ,second fish when surfaced looked around 3lb mark done the same as i went to lift it shook its head and away it went too it was a very windy night which caused a belly in the line which could of caused a part of it and i did check the hooks and they were sharp .just stood there scratching me head wondering wtf was happening me losing fish arrgghhh

[adam123]

thanks for all the help i will take your advice and use it to hopefuly catch some fish tomorrow

[bozjc]

i fished that area the other week and had small rattles within a few secs of the bait hitting the bottom.
after 10 - 15mins the bait was gone!

i refushed to fish that area and use small hooks, i was using 4/0 mustards for codling, but could have dropped down to 1/0 or size 1 for small stuff.

always pays to carry some small 1/0, size 1 and 2 hooks for scrathing for smaller stuff.
im just scared to hook a monster fish on a dinky hook, sods law that would happen to me

[mick dunn]

When i fished Seaham the other day i fished with two rods. One with a three hook flapper rig size 1 hooks small rag tipped with squid baits.
Other rod launched out with nearly whole squid on looking for the big one.
Caught 3 little fish on the 1 hooks-would never have got them on the big bait.
I also think its possible to get a decent fish on the 1 hooks.

[5150]

get a lot of small fish amongst the rocks there, rocklings, blennies, butterfish etc etc downsizing the hook as mentioned will give you the chance to find out what's doing all the nibbling.

[Falcone]

When i fish i use a 2 hook pully/pennel with a size 1 as my top hook, i normally find that even the larger size fish are taken on the much smaller top hook, ive found that if i use a 2 hook pennel with the same size larger hooks my catches are less.
I would try with the smaller hooks and you should see a better connect rate.