As anglers have become more aware of methods such as catch and release and selective harvest, there has been an increased interest in circle hooks that promise to reduce unintended fish mortality, as they’re safer for fish than traditional J hooks. However, many anglers who think they’re using a circle hook are actually using an octopus hook as they look quite similar. Further complicating things, some manufacturers market an “octopus circle hook.” How can you tell if you’re using a circle hook vs. a j hook, or even an octopus hook?
It’s not as complicated as it seems to distinguish circle hooks vs. j hooks. A circle hook’s point bends inwards. Its point is meant to grab a fish by the corner of the mouth when it is reeled in. Unlike a circle hook, the point of a traditional, or j hook, points straight up. It is meant to jab into a fish’s mouth with the force of the bite, or a solid hookset. An octopus hook can either be a circle hook or traditional depending on how the point is aligned, but all octopus hooks have an eye that is offset from the shank. Most octopus hooks have a point that bends slightly inward, but it isn’t as pronounced as a circle hook.
Circle Hook vs. J Hook
Perhaps a better way of explaining the difference between a circle hook and a traditional hook is to think of them like the letters G and J. The point of a circle hook bends inward like the bottom of a G. A traditional hook, in contrast, looks much like a J. Its point sticks straight up towards the sky.
J hooks are by far what most people start with. They’re featured on multiple lures like jigs and spinnerbaits and there’s nothing wrong with them – they’re quite effective. However, if you’re fishing live bait and you go to set the hook, you could impale the fish quite deep in its stomach. This could potentially kill it. Thus, J style hooks have fallen out of favor when fishing live bait. Even if you plan on keeping the fish anyway, you never know what species will bite. You might want to spare a certain fish’s life that bites your hook. Circle hooks will help you do that.
Circle Hook vs. Octopus Hook
People commonly misidentify octopus hooks as circle hooks. The two look similar as both hooks’ points bend inward slightly, but an octopus hook point’s bend is much less pronounced. Additionally, the eye of an octopus hook bends outward. This allows the hook to be snelled more easily, as the line can go straight down the shaft of the hook.
Why Use Circle Hooks for Fishing?
If you’re going to be fishing with live bait and intend to throw any fish you catch back, you should consider using circle hooks vs an octopus hook or j hook. A circle hook’s unique design limits the chance that you will gut hook a fish. This enhances their survivability. The reason this is so is how the hook is designed. While a J hook is going to jab straight into a fish’s flesh, if you try and set the hook with a circle hook, all you’re going to do is pull the hook away from the fish.
How To Set a Circle Hook
Fishing with a circle hook can be extremely unintuitive as you don’t set the hook. If you snap your rod back the second you feel a fish on a circle hook, all you’re going to do is pull the hook away. What you want to do instead is reel in. The idea is if you reel in your hook and the fish turns its head from you, when the hook reaches the very corner of the fish’s mouth, it’ll catch on its own, almost like its a grappling hook catching on the edge of a building.
This is ideal for a few reasons. One, the fish is hooked in a place that is unlikely to be mortal. Secondly, the fish is hooked in what is usually a pretty solid part of its mouth which should allow you to reel it in.
Circle Hooks and Catfish: The Perfect Match
If you’re after giant catfish, circle hooks are ideal. For one, these monstrous fish have no trouble inhaling bait in their gaping maw. If you don’t use a circle hook when fishing for catfish, there’s a great chance you’ll gut hook them. Secondly, certain catfish bait like chicken liver is easier to keep on a circle hook than a j hook.
Once catfish get too big they stop being that tasty, in my opinion, and start being better trophies. Few taxidermists will mount them and you’re better off with artificial fish mounts. Given this, you really want to make sure the big cats survive. When fishing with live or cut bait please consider using a circle hook to enhance the fishery for generations to come.
Are You Legally Required to Use Circle Hooks?
In some states, it is the law to use circle hooks when fishing live bait. When I was researching if treble hooks are illegal in the different states, I often found that certain states require circle hooks when fishing live bait for certain species the state is trying to protect. For the most part, you see these laws when you’re talking about going after stripers, but they can also apply to other fish.
As of writing, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Maryland, Mississippi, New York, and Pennsylvania all have laws on the books that prohibit the use of certain hooks when fishing with live bait. Most prefer (or require) the use of circle hooks instead. Further, there is a federal regulation, 50 CFR 635.21(f) to contend with. This prohibits the use of any hook that isn’t a circle hook in billfish tournaments and while recreationally fishing for sharks.
What Brands Would I Recommend?
Any time I’m looking to buy some fishing hooks, I’m usually focusing on three brands: Mustad, Gamakatsu, and Trokar. My recommendation would be to buy whatever they have in your local tackle shop and support a small business. All three of these brands are great and won’t let you down. The shopkeeper will be happy to help you get the right size of hook for the type of fish you’re going for. If you don’t have a tackle shop near you, all of these brands are also available on Amazon. Here are a few links to each so you can check them out.
- Eagle Claw TK619 2/0 Trokar circle hook – this larger size is going to make this a good circle hook for fishing catfish or other large species. You need a larger hook to hold onto a good-sized piece of chicken liver or other cut bait.
- Gamakatsu Octopus Circle hook – these are great if you want to rig them snelled as the octopus style allows for that. Several sizes are offered via a drop down (use a smaller size for smaller fish).
- Mustad Ultrapoint Demon Wide-Gap Circle Hooks – these are available in a wide variety of sizes that allow for targeting any species you can dream of.
Conclusions
While circle hooks do take some getting used to since you don’t set the hook as normal, they are far better for any fish you intend to release unharmed. Gut hooking fish is never a pretty business. You’re often faced with two dismal choices: either cut the line (and leave the hook in) or try and retrieve it (and potentially kill the fish). Instead, consider using a circle hook vs. a j hook and avoid this situation altogether. You’ll catch just as many fish while mortally wounding far fewer. It’s better for you, better for the fish, and better for the next angler. It’s a win, win, win.
Thanks for reading,
John Paxton
