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Hooks - make the right choice |
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There are many different
brands of hooks on the market today. Some of the more popular names
that spring to mind include Kamasan, Sakuma, Gamakatsu, Owner, Mustad
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Varivas.
Many anglers spend a fortune
on the latest rods and reels, to aid in their quest for a new specie
or double figure catch, however often pay little attention to the
detail on the hooks that they need for the job. Hooks are not a great
expense, but the style and choice of pattern is imperative to the
species being targeted. I use a variety of different hooks in my
angling exploits, but if pushed, I would list Kamasan and Sakuma as
having the hooks to cover most situations in the UK. |
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Looking at Kamasan first, they
have a very strong range of hooks for most sea angling occasions, the
following being some of my favourites –
B940 -
Aberdeen hook has been popular with both boat and shore anglers for
many years. These hooks are extremely sharp, with a fine barb.
B940m - Aberdeen
hook evolved from the B940 and has been a firm favourite with match
anglers for many years. These hooks are extremely sharp, with a fine
barb.
B950u
– These hooks make up the Kamasan range of uptide, they are robust,
extremely sharp and have a chemically etched needle point.
B980 - A
traditional eyed specimen hook, more commonly found in course anglers
tackle box, however in the smaller sizes 8, 10, 12, is a strong hook
capable of dealing with the rigors of sea fishing along with landing
some specimen sized fish. |
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The B940 is my hook of
choice when we turn our attentions to drifting the many kelp covered
rocky areas for the likes of wrasse and small pollack. With a good
long shank and fine barb, they are perfect for presenting the wrasses
main dinner of ragworm; either head hooked or with the worm pushed
gently passed the eye.
With a strong powerful
jaw, the wrasse is not always the easiest fish to hook up which is
where the ultra fine barb of the B940 helps out. The size of hook
varies, but for our staple wrasse fishing which can range for small
cuckoo wrasse up to ballans of 3lb average – the B940 in sizes 6, 4 or
2 tend to cover most situations.
Another major plus when
using these hooks is that drifting over the rock and kelp covered
ground will at some point result in the hook getting snagged up.
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As a fine wire Aberdeen hook, on many occasions
you will be able to bend the hook straight out of the snag and retrieve
your end tackle. The hook will then simply bend back into place. This
won’t work all the time, and often you may still need to replace a damaged
hook – but it certainly does help out with tackle loss. |
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When moving onto anchor work over the fair
amount of rough and broken ground in Holyhead and Trearddur I tend to
use Sakuma hooks; styles of choice being the Manta and Phantom ranges.
Importing a range of hooks from Japan,
Sakuma started trading in the UK just over 10 years ago. Since that
time, the brand has gone from strength to strength and is commonly
regarded as having one of the best ranges of hooks on the market
today.
They have quickly become a firm favourite
with some of the UK’s accomplished Match Anglers.
A super sharp forged wire, the Manta hook is finished in
anti-corrosive black nickel. It has a special wide gape that will
offers superb presentation to bulky baits like crab and squid. With
sizes ranging from 6 up to 5/0, it covers most angling situations.
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A Sakuma Manta 4/0 being a firm favourite aboard
My Way when targeting the hard fighting double figure smoothhound that
visit our shores from mid May each year.
The Manta is certainly a top choice for specimen
hunting in the larger sizes and match fishing in the smaller sizes.
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Strength & Reliability |
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When thinking of our bigger and stronger prey,
tope and conger spring immediately to mind.
Targeting such species, you need a big strong
hook, that will not bend or snap under the strain of hook up. tend to
turn to the old faithful of O’Shaunessey hook pattern.
As mentioned earlier, there may be a number of
different brands to choose from, however Mustad have been a world
leader in hook manufacture to the commercial and recreational
fisherman for many years. |
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For
overall strength and reliability you won’t go wrong with a Mustad 3406.
Made from forged bronze, these hooks can be bought in a variety of sizes
up to 14/0, ideal if thinking about big shark fishing. |
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