Circle Hooks & Striped Bass

John-
If I'm not mistaken, the pork rinds sold today aren't really pork so i wonder if they would not be be considered "natural" and Ok to use on regular no circle hook bucktail?

Looking at a jar of the new Otter Tails, & it doesn't say what they are made of, just says scented with Squid & Fish oils. I know that's what I'll use, until told otherwise, or else I have countless, useless bucktails.
John

I'm a big fan of the Rapala X rap. For baiting I use a 10/0 octopus beak hook. It's a circle with a shank.



I use B. If any one says any different. They need a serious reality check. It's extremely
important for everyone to understand. I'm not the one asking the questions. 😉

The FMP defines a ‘circle hook’ as a non-offset hook where the point is pointed perpendicularly back towards the shank. The term ‘non-offset’ means the point and barb are in the same plane as the shank (e.g., when the hook is laying on a flat surface, the entire hook and barb also lay flat).

although I haven't used bait for years, I recall Its tough to use a circle hook when putting on a chunk of bunker. Just not that much of an opening and I had to make sure I caught the backbone. For peanuts or an eel through the nostrils or lips was do-able. I'll stick to lures. I really only fish for stripers while surfcasting anyway.

although I haven't used bait for years, I recall Its tough to use a circle hook when putting on a chunk of bunker. Just not that much of an opening and I had to make sure I caught the backbone. For peanuts or an eel through the nostrils or lips was do-able. I'll stick to lures. I really only fish for stripers while surfcasting anyway.

So true. My "Circle Hook Test" is if it's not a PITA to get a chunk of bait on it, it's not a circle hook. I end up going to 10/0s for live lining mackerel if I insist on running a hook through the fish. Otherwise I'll do a bridle using a rubber band through the eye sockets...

I seen you do it! 😉


Soaking a clam is a ideal striper bait. In my opinion and from my experience
a clam belly will catch you that slot fish far more often than that citation bass.

No one is stopping you from using blueclaws for bait.

"FISHING AT NIGHT FOR STRIPED BASS USING PEELER CRABS FOR BAIT"

The north east jetty fisherman is a very confused individual.

the SECRET to Jetty Fishing Texas Redfish Hunter​

This is a good bait for live lining. Pitch off the side of the jetty.

Soaking a clam is a ideal striper bait. In my opinion and from my experience
a clam belly will catch you that slot fish far more often than that citation bass.

This. I've been using circles for bait exclusively for probably three years now. Once I got used to them I really started to appreciate them. But yes, I'm usually jamming a big snotwad of clam guts on it, although I have done bunker chunks too. Keeping a little copper wire or rigging floss on hand for the tough ones isn't a bad idea, But I usually just split the chunk or use a smaller piece.

A fresh bunker chunk is one of the most effective baits there is.
A spinning rig with braid and a clinch to your fish finder rig is
idiot proof.

If you chunk the bunker and remove the guts.
Now freeze them 15 minutes for texture, split
the chunks and salt them. Then back in the freezer.
You can stick them in the freezer and reuse them.
for the next two or three weeks. If you don't do
this. I can promise you that they are going to
fly right off your hook in the middle of the cast.

I walked in the tackle shop many times before the season opened
and picked up packs of frozen clam and caught stripers doing this.
Gilgo is a very good spot the first two weeks of April.

Guys would take a J hook and put a 15 degree bend in the shank
and then take the bend of the hook and kink it the other way.
Bluefish would never get gut hooked. As for whatever these environmentalists
are seeing, I couldn't tell you. Swinging on a game fish on a boat
is a big angler mistake. Just reel tight and the fish hooks itself.

From land and stretch the game changes. I'm a firm believer in reel tight
and now burry the hook in its face. I have no problem saying this.
I'm not looking to make nice uh nice uh when I'm fishing. But I do
very much respect all of my surroundings.

What do you see? I can't afford it. HE CRUSHED IT! 😉 😎

I seen you do it! 😉


Soaking a clam is a ideal striper bait. In my opinion and from my experience
a clam belly will catch you that slot fish far more often than that citation bass.

No one is stopping you from using blueclaws for bait.

"FISHING AT NIGHT FOR STRIPED BASS USING PEELER CRABS FOR BAIT"

The north east jetty fisherman is a very confused individual.

the SECRET to Jetty Fishing Texas Redfish Hunter​

This is a good bait for live lining. Pitch off the side of the jetty.

I seen you do it! 😉


Soaking a clam is a ideal striper bait. In my opinion and from my experience
a clam belly will catch you that slot fish far more often than that citation bass.

No one is stopping you from using blueclaws for bait.

"FISHING AT NIGHT FOR STRIPED BASS USING PEELER CRABS FOR BAIT"

The north east jetty fisherman is a very confused individual.

the SECRET to Jetty Fishing Texas Redfish Hunter​

This is a good bait for live lining. Pitch off the side of the jetty.

Interesting video but the background music was unnecessarily to loud and not really needed at all.

although I haven't used bait for years, I recall Its tough to use a circle hook when putting on a chunk of bunker. Just not that much of an opening and I had to make sure I caught the backbone. For peanuts or an eel through the nostrils or lips was do-able. I'll stick to lures. I really only fish for stripers while surfcasting anyway.

No need to catch the backbone. Just go with bigger hooks. With striped bass and what they are attempting to do, the bigger the better.

Perhaps easing a bait off a boat requiring a second mortgage you can miss the spine, but to whip out a chunk past the first breaker without catching the backbone, especially with non-offset circles, is going to lose a bait to the dogfish. But yes, non-offset 8/0s and bigger will be in short supply soon.

Perhaps easing a bait off a boat requiring a second mortgage you can miss the spine, but to whip out a chunk past the first breaker without catching the backbone, especially with non-offset circles, is going to lose a bait to the dogfish. But yes, non-offset 8/0s and bigger will be in short supply soon.

Great point, I definitely overlooked that as I mainly chunk heads but I do wish I had enough money to afford a boat requiring a second mortgage. As for me, it's the shoreline and small inflatables. Heck, I can barely afford to stay on the island.

Things didn't get easier for me with civil service and army reserve income until my sons were grown. My 1999 bay boat came from a lawsuit against the drunk woman who hit my wife. I hardly ever use it anymore, preferring the kayak but I hear you.

Things didn't get easier for me with civil service and army reserve income until my sons were grown. My 1999 bay boat came from a lawsuit against the drunk woman who hit my wife. I hardly ever use it anymore, preferring the kayak but I hear you.

There's is definitely something about fishing from kayaks, sups, and small watercraft for sure. I love fishing in just about any form but will definitely never give up small watercraft. So easy, simple, and fine-tuned. Seems the bigger the boat the more hassle but dang I love those too.

The reason I still won't sell my 18' dual console. While I admit that in the fall since 2002 or so I am torn between maybe gearing up clothing-wise on the yak, or hunting for Bambi's grandparents, or surfcasting, I still usually make one last boat trip, not catching anything but enjoying the hell out of an almost vacant state channel and back bay.