Live bait hooks?
 

I got a Cabela's gift card that I'm tired of looking at so I decided to start stocking up on fishing gear. I was wondering what kind and size of hooks you guys like to use and why for live bait?


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For salt water using live shrimp or minnows .I use a 1/0 khale hook. I have been trying to use bronze hooks as they will rust out faster if you break one off.
The 1/0 is a small hook and IMHO allows the bait more movement in the water.

Number 7 or 8 ( small ) treble hook for shrimp all day. Bait fish (poogies )I use a #1 Kahle. Croakers I use #2-4 Kahle


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I will run a small treble to free line live poogies also.


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#3 Khale hook for any live bait that I use in saltwater get's the job done.

Shrimp swim really well on a small treble.


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Hooked in the head?


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treble also useful for fishing areas where you might get hung up, they break loose easier than most circle or khale hooks

Yep. Just give em try. I used Kahle for years with success but once I tried a treble with live shrimp that's all I will use now. But I rarely fish live unless late July and August or unless someone on the boat wants to use them.


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Yeah, it's mostly for my sisters but I'll definitely give it a try!


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Just make sure to have pliers handy. You don't miss many fish but gotta unhook everyone with pliers darn near.


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I'll take a few missed fish to avoid that any day.

My favorite hook for crab (live, whole, cracked, or claw) is a Gamakatsu 7/0 offset J hook.

We've used a lot of hooks over the years, and this one is out favorite. But if you can't find this hook and end up with a Mustad or and Eagle Claw, the important features are 7/0, offset shank, and J hook. You will lose a lot of hookups with a circle hook or a non-offset J. We use this hook also for cut mullet, except for the head.

We keep a few bigger offset J hooks in the box (9/0, 11/0) for mullet heads and bigger live baits. The 11/0 is just right for bigger croaker, pinfish, sand trout, and whiting. One of my biggest redfish ever was on a 13" croaker hooked up on an 11/0. Medium croaker and pinfish go well with the 9/0. The "bait" croaker that you can buy are about right on the 7/0.

4/0 owner octopus hook