man it feels like i'm back at square 1 again..I'm still gonna use circle hooks with my smaller rigs and braided line I get a good hookup ratio but I'm not sure what to do about my bigger rigs with mono line..seems like the stretch makes it harder to stick a circle hook..the other night I miss 3 sharks on my 12/0 with the 100# mono, I had about a 10# bait out there not huge, let the fish eat it for about 50-60 yards each run and I had that circle hook in the fishes mouth at least one of those runs because the loop by my haywire twist got bit down on but I missed the hookset. For now I will be trying the Js with bigger bait and stretchy mono line and I will do the runnin' man on his ass then set up hard multiple times until the mono starts singin'
On my casted surf rods, (40#-50# class) targeting smaller sharks, drum, jacks, etc., circle hooks no question. Generally, 14/0 or 16/0 Mustad 39960ST. I've been doing it this way for 30 years and it has worked.
I am as hard headed and resistant to chage as anyone out there. But I have come 180 degrees on my gear targeting bigger sharks. Today for these it depends on the bait I'm using. As hard as it is for me to say it - circle hooks have their place in big shark gear. But you must use them properly.
On a really big or thick bait I use J's exclusively. I use a long rigging needle to pull the leader through the bait and set the hooks turned out. If necessary I will zip tie them so they stay exposed. This would be for whole or part jack, whole bonita or big thick chunk of ray.
Circle hooks have proven effective on sharks to over 13' when used properly. You cannot bury them deep in bait. They will not turn like they need to to set. I use them in a small chunk of bonita, a jack filet or a piece of ray that is pretty thin. Place the hook near the edge of the bait with the leader cable or wire free (not threaded through the bait) and you will get consistant corner of the mouth hook sets. My personal hookup ratio has gone up using circle hooks in this manner.
I have found that gapping a 20/0 circle 1/8" to 3/16" will help. 14/0 or 16/0 circles on my casted leaders I offset. The big 20/0s I have quit offsetting because we were getting a lot of hook sets deep in the throat or in the gills. As for removing the hook, hooks are cheap compared to all the money spent on gear. Cut the damn things and be done with it.
i used circle hooks twice and caught the sharks but one of them got them in the tounge and the other it got swollowed so they didnt work like they were supose to
DIRTY SOUTH SHARK HUNTERS
2012 1st place BLACKTIP CHALLENGE
2011 NO LIMIT TOURNAMENT CHAMPION 2nd year in a row
2010 BHC biggest hammerhead shark on 80 lb test
2010 NO LIMIT TOURNAMENT CHAMPION
2010 BHC 3rd and 5th place biggest shark
2010 april sharker of the month
2009-2010 Rookie of the year
I also only fish circles on everything from bait rigs to my big shark rigs. The key to using the correctly is having them in the corner of the bait so that it is able to twist/turn and is able to get the corner of the sharks mouth. Many people like to bury J's in the bait, but that simply will not work when using circle hooks. I recently bought some 24/0 charlie brown circles to try out on some bigger baits, so I'm curious to see how they hold up.
I also only fish circles on everything from bait rigs to my big shark rigs. The key to using the correctly is having them in the corner of the bait so that it is able to twist/turn and is able to get the corner of the sharks mouth. Many people like to bury J's in the bait, but that simply will not work when using circle hooks. I recently bought some 24/0 charlie brown circles to try out on some bigger baits, so I'm curious to see how they hold up.
I agree, a crucial part of using a circle is leaving the point exposed, and able to move. If it can't, how can it rotate into the corner of the sharks mouth?
I use Mustad 12/0 stainless j's, 15' of 1/32 cable
and ive done pretty good so far
Mustad 20/0 circles all the way. I get the same hook-up ratio with J's and circles. But never gut hooked one with a circle...yet. But my boss uses J's and the OCCASIONAL circle. Out of 50+ sharks this year, we gut hooked about 10 on J's and one on one of my boss's smaller circles (16/0 Mustad). However, it was an 8' tiger that sucked down and swallowed about a 3# jack before he ever took off. I mean, it was deep in his throat. No way to prevent that one.
Circle hooks can and do catch the biggest sharks in the world. look at shark men
J hooks kill sharks.
Circle hooks can and do catch the biggest sharks in the world. look at shark men
J hooks kill sharks.
what an ignorant statement
Circle hooks can and do catch the biggest sharks in the world. look at shark men
J hooks kill sharks.
what an
Circle hooks can and do catch the biggest sharks in the world. look at shark men
J hooks kill sharks.
ignorant statement
ignorant ????
Let me fix it for you Hoss... J hooks kill fish
calling facts ignorant is the only thing thats Lacking knowledge.
Can you please swallow a 12/0 J hooked to my line for me as I lock down my drag turning you inside out
Circle hooks can and do catch the biggest sharks in the world. look at shark men
J hooks kill sharks.
what an
Circle hooks can and do catch the biggest sharks in the world. look at shark men
J hooks kill sharks.
ignorant statement
Let me fix it for you Hoss... J hooks kill fish
calling facts ignorant is the only thing thats Lacking knowledge.
Can you please swallow a 12/0 J hooked to my line for me as I lock down my drag turning you inside out
I agree with this. Seems like common sense to me that a J hook can easily harm or kill a fish.
ive never gut hooked a fish with a j besides catfish 
, but calling an opinion ignorant is kinda annoying
ive never gut hooked a fish with a j besides catfish
like saying power pro is the best annoying.
I have had circles gut hook. I have had J's gut hook. Circles are safer for fish. If your going after any kind of big game you should use some kind of stopper about 2 feet up from the hook to prevent this matter.
I mean its not rocket since, look at all the big million dollar tournaments and now even big shark tournaments are going all circle. Its a proven fact the J hook mortality rates a extremely high over circles.
Just my opinion but 25 different kinds of sharks in FL alone are protected, if everybody is so against killing sharks J hooks should be the first thing you get rid of.
Sorry for the rant or if offend you, fish those J's if you desire, there no one that can tell you not to YET I can almost bet your going to see a J hook restriction on all shark fishing real soon.
If your going after any kind of big game you should use some kind of stopper about 2 feet up from the hook to prevent this matter.
Exactly and for those who think that wont work I have plenty of these for proof the blocker works very will oh and I still use circles.
