a long shanked 'Aberdeen' hook
such as Kamasan B940, Sakuma 540
or Mustad 3261 in sizes from 1 up to
4/0.
For species like black bream I
use a shorter shanked
pattern such as the ever-
popular Mustad 79515, or
'chinu' in sizes around No1.
There is also the 'viking'
which is regularly used in
sizes up to 6/0 for medium-weight
species such as rays, hounds and
bass. For cod my preference is the
Sakuma
545 in 8/0 depending on the type,
and size of bait,
although I would use a
bigger hook if using a pennel
rig to present the bait.For the bigger species
Conger eels require a very strong,
reliable hook and the Mustad 3407
O'Shaughnessy pattern has been
around almost as long as Jim
Whippy, similarly providing sterling
service. Heavy in the wire, this
'beast' of a hook has a rather brutal
barb, that I tend to crush before use,
to aid clean unhooking and the 10/0
size is about right for a whole
mackerel/pouting or big cuttle bait.
The pattern is also popular among
Scotland's common skate anglers in
size 14/0, which is a more than good
enough recommendation for me.inexpensive, yet vitally important.
It's just not worth skimping on
cheap products or using rusty, blunt
hooks that have been left to fester
in damp tackle bags.
I keep my hooks in sealed
containers and usually dispose of
the smaller patterns after one
session whilst washing off the
bigger hooks, with fresh water,
immediately after use and
thoroughly dry them before
storage. Some anglers use water
dispersant sprays, such as WD-40 to
protect their hooks from corrosion
and claim it doesn’t taint the bait.
Some anglers also think that it adds
to their attraction. I'm keeping an
open mind about that.Favourites
Everybody has their favourite hook
patterns and opinions vary about
the advantages and disadvantages
of various makes and models so, if
you are starting out, it's well worth
investigating the preferences of
various local anglers' choice of hook
with regards to specific species.
Looking at the smaller hooks first,
used for plaice fishing on the drift
with worm as the main bait. I prefer66 Saltwater Boat Angling
it's well worth
investigating the
preferences of various
local anglers' choice
of hook with regards
to specific species
Top row-12/0 to size 1 J hooks. Middle row- 6/0 to
14 /0 circles, Bottom row - 2/0-size 1 Aberdeen hooks10 /0 O'Shaughnessy
Conger hook crimped
to 250lb commercial
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