which hooks???

[ralph]

what size hooks should i use for general sea fishing.iv got some long shank 2/0 s and some short shank 2/0s and some long shank2s.which are best?ill be using mainly mussel, fish strip and squid as bait.if none of these hooks are right what size should i use?ill be fishing for whiting mainly with the odd bit of codding or polloking in between.

thanks. ralph (sorry if that made no sense - iv had a long day)

[Edited on 12/10/2003 by ralph]

[Jimbob]

Size 1\'s for whiteys (kamasan b940\'s the best) on three hook flappers. Short snood if there is movement or tidal pull on the water and switch to longer ones when it\'s dead.

For cod go for 1\'0\'s to 4\'o\'s - I always prefer long shank in winter and would tend to use 3/0\'s and 4/0\'s. Fish a pennel if the ground\'s not too rough.

[Brashy]

3/0\'s and 4/0\'s for me in the winter for the cod anything else i shift down to 2/0\'s mainly short shank.

[Ant]

I\'ve caught a few whities b4 , found the best way was on a multiple hook rig (normally two hooks for me) and long snoods (2 1/2-3ft) over clean ground. as long as you can comfortably get away with. I use plastic booms to help reduce tangles. Normally use size 2 Kamasans B940\'s (convinced there is nothing better for them and I\'ve tried loads of others) and they generally hook themselves on the long snoods. Also like the gemini floating beads to give the bait a bit of bouyancy. Never really get many crabs with this setup either as the snoods due to their length float about away from the bottom.

[peter.m]

Just got some Varivas Big Mouths to try and see what they were like. Used them at Snab Point for the first time in the Shiremoor Open. Seem quite strong with a very sharp point and bend out of snags ok. One thing I\'ll have to watch is the point as needs to be checked very carefully and honed back on a stone as it gets little blunted.
On the whole though compares quite favourably with Vikings or Mustad Big Eyes and also on price. Also a bit finer for large worm baits.

[Jimbob]

Ant - hush hush on those plastic Avis booms that cost about £1.20 for 10. Seriously lads, if you\'re fishing close range, nothing is better and wait for it, even for cod. Plastic booms and liver...what next :P

[MikeR]

I also use Varivas Big Mouth hooks (4/0). They\'re strong without being brittle, have a wide gape and are very sharp. They\'re also quite cheap. Only place that sells them is veals mail order:

http://www.veals.co.uk

Also use varivas sal****er champions (1/0) and varivas aberdeens (2/0). Can\'t fault them at all, which isn\'t like me!

[peter.m]

Ant how do you find them booms. I\'ve just got some to make up some rigs for some matches down Great Yarmouth next month. Read an article by Alan Yates some time ago about using booms and apparently they let you go to lighter snoods if it comes to scratching around for dabs etc. One of the matches is a day match so if there\'s no sea and it\'s bright might make the difference.

[Ant]

Really good Peter, just if you are fishing quite long snoods which I find more effective, the snoods don\'t seem to tangle as much. Haven\'t been down to anything less than 15lb flurocarbon on them and size 4 but they do the job. Apparently metal ones attract dabs and so on but I\'ve never tried them? Catch loads of flats at roker with the setup, but then again I normally catch a load of fish there. I do rate the floating beads on longs snoods though, fished them against normal luminous ones and sequins and the gemini beads were alot more effective.

[peter.m]

Cheers Ant going to try them. Got some avis booms as well as 4inch metal ones so I\'ll try both. Was going to try various length and weight of snood depending on condtions but thought short 15lb Flurocarbon if it gets really difficult.