You will need a 9/0 or a 10/0 circle hook to catch those really big sharks. You are no longer allowed to chum, ie. use dead bait to catch sharks off of the beaches of Florida anymore. The Florida Wildlife Commission made new rules in July of 2019, that make it illegal to use dead bait on the beaches.
Should I use circle hooks for surf fishing?
The short and confident answer is YES. Circle hooks are great for surf fishing. The automatic hook-sets they provide without gut hooking the fish make them the way to go for novice surf anglers and those who want to release some of their catches alive.
Are circle hooks mandatory in Florida?
In Florida, it is required to use non-offset circle hooks when fishing with natural bait for reef fish in Gulf waters. Non-offset circle hooks are those in which the end of the hook is inline with the shank of the hook – rather than being angled sideways, away from the shank.
What kind of hook do you use for surf fishing?
2/0 hooks are the best all around hook size for surf fishing. A 2/0 circle hook will catch smaller fish like whiting and pompano but are also big enough to catch bluefish, mackerel, fluke, flounder, redfish, snook and tarpon too.
Are circle hooks good for saltwater fishing?
CIRCLE FISHING HOOKS
As a result, circle saltwater fishing hooks are now considered the best saltwater fishing hooks for catch-and-release fishing. When a fish swallows a bait on a circle fishing hook and swims away, the line pulls the hook out of the fish’s stomach and into its mouth, where it will catch in the jaw.
What size hooks for OBX surf fishing?
They are the most expensive bait on the Outer Banks but are VERY effective! Remember: small hooks catch more fish, so you may only need a size 4-6 hook for most fish in the surf.
What is the advantage of circle hooks?
Benefits of circle hooks
Reduced deep hooking – improved survival of released fish and decreased loss of fishing tackle. Improved hook-up and landing rates for many species. The strike time is not as crucial for hook-up of fish.
What fish hooks are illegal in Florida?
A treble hook considered a “multiple hook” and is illegal on regulated and catch-and-release saltwater species in Florida when used in conjunction with live or dead natural bait. Many anglers choose not to use treble hooks with bait at all because you cannot be sure which species of fish will bite.
What sharks are legal to keep in Florida?
Bull, nurse, spinner, blue, oceanic whitetip, porbeagle, shortfin mako and thresher sharks fall into Group 2. The daily bag limit (the number of sharks an angler can take home) per person is one catch for both groups. A vessel can bring back no more than two sharks.
What sharks are legal to catch in Florida?
Group 1 sharks (8 species) have no minimum size limit and include:
- Atlantic Sharpnose.
- Blacknose.
- Blacktip.
- Bonnethead.
- Finetooth.
- Smooth dogfish.
- Florida smoothhound.
- Gulf smoothhound.
How do you size a circle hook?
For the “ought” sizes (1/0, 2/0, etc), the bigger the number, the bigger the hook. For example, a 4/0 hook is bigger than a 1/0 hook. The opposite is true for the numbered sizes. The bigger the number, the smaller the hook.
What size hook should you use for shark fishing?
For sharks in the 3-5 foot range, use a 5/0 circle hook. If you think you’ll catch sharks larger than the 3 to 5 footers, we recommend a 12/0-14/0 circle hook. We recommend circle hooks that are forged to prevent bending and breaking. Hooks can bend and even break from a large fish.
What sizes do circle hooks come in?
All of these circle hooks come in different sizes usually ranging from #12 up to #32 for SCs, #1 to 5/0 for LCs, and #12 up to 10/0 for regular circle shank hooks. For circle type with a semi-dropped point (CPS), circle hook sizes range from large circle sized (5/0) down to small circle sized hook (#20).
What’s the difference between Octopus and circle hooks?
Octopus hooks are like circle or j hooks, except that the eye is bent backwards. This is so that if you’re snelling the hook, the line can go straight down to the backside of the shank.
What is the best bait for surf fishing?
What’s the best bait for surf fishing?
- Clams. Clams are a choice bait with surf fishing enthusiasts.
- Shrimp. Shrimp are one of the most popular baits to use when fishing in shore or from the beach, bridges and other coastal areas.
- Sand Fleas.
- Menhaden / Bunker.
- Squid.
- Mullet.
- Crabs.
- Cut Bait.
What size weight should I use for surf fishing?
2 ounces (57 grams) is the minimum weight to cast when fishing the surf. Anything lighter will fail to keep your line steady in the surf unless it is extremely calm. Yes, it is still possible to use lighter leads and they can give great results, especially if there is no wave action and the water is not moving.
What size hooks for beach casting?
– Size 1/0, 2/0 and 3/0: The choice for larger species like cod, bass, pollack, rays and smoothhounds. – Size 4/0, 5/0, 6/0: Essential for the biggest species, such as conger eels, big cod or bass and for use with very large baits like whole squid and mackerel.
What is the best bait for surf perch?
Bait. Popular baits for surfperch include mole crabs, marine worms, sand shrimp, mussels and clam necks – the choice depends on availability, convenience and personal preference. Many anglers gather crabs, worms and shrimp during low tide from the same beaches they’re going to fish later.
Do circle hooks snag less?
Circle Hooks Minimize Swallowing Of The Hook. Finally, the biggest reason to use circle hooks is that they greatly reduce the chances of gut-hooking a fish. This is because the design creates a smaller gap between the hook point and the shank of the hook and because the hook point is angled inward.
Are circle hooks better for catch and release?
Circle hooks can be used in both freshwater and saltwater fisheries to cause less harm to catch and release species.
Are circle hooks safer?
The circle hook qualifies as a great addition to fishing safety gear. Because of its unique shape, it is safe for fish, and increases successful catch and release.
Contents