What size hook for surf fishing [2022]

My favorite vacation is an Outer Banks fishing trip with pals. The days are spent at the beach and the nights over a bonfire with friends and alcohol. I adore surf fishing, from casting from the coast to pulling in a large one while taking in the view.

There are many different surf fishing hooks, and each has a specific purpose, from catching little baitfish to attracting striped bass. So many possibilities make it hard to choose the right hook size. What I’ve learnt from surfing and fishing near North Carolina’s coast:

What size hook for surf fishing

Hook sizes range from 28 to 6/0.
Hook sizes range from 28 to 6/0. To understand this, you have to know that a hook’s size is measured by the number of hooks per inch or millimeter—depending on your country’s standards.

A hook with a 2/0 gauge is twice as thick as one with a 4/0 gauge, so it can handle heavier line and bait combinations without breaking. When buying new hooks for surf fishing, make sure you’re getting quality gear in order to keep your catch from slipping away!

The size of the hook you use

The sort of fish that you are going after should determine the size of the hook that you use. When fishing for smaller fish, smaller hooks should be used, whereas larger hooks should be used when fishing for larger fish.

If you want to catch a big one, go with something in between. If you’re targeting smaller species like trout or snapper, then consider using a circle hook—it will allow those fish to swim away unharmed when they get caught on your line.

Consider using a circle hoo

If you intend to catch and then release the fish, you might want to consider using a circle hook. If you plan on releasing the fish once you catch them, you might want to think about utilizing circle hooks instead of traditional ones.

Because they are designed to hook fish in the corner of their mouth, they are ideal for catch-and-release fishing. This lessens the harm that can be inflicted by a hook and decreases the likelihood of an accidental stomach hooking (which can cause serious internal injuries).

Smaller hooks are used for smaller fish

Smaller hooks are used for smaller fish (e.g., mackerel) and bigger hooks for bigger fish (e.g., surfperch). The size of your hook depends on the type of fish you are pursuing, the type of bait you are offering and the size of fish that is caught.

There is a vast range of sizes available for hooks, ranging from very little to quite large. When fishing for smaller fish, such as mackerel, anglers typically use smaller hooks, whereas larger hooks are reserved for larger fish (e.g., surfperch). Consider the following, by way of illustration:

Frequently Asked Questions

Use a number 10 barbless

Use a number 10 barbless single-hook model made out of brass or stainless steel rather than aluminum if you wish to catch smaller trout using grubs or worms. This will allow you to cast further and catch more fish.

If you want to capture larger salmon from rivers using shrimp as bait, opt for a treble hook made out of stainless steel rather than nickel because it will hold up better over time and will save your fingers from getting bitten by sharp points.

Hooks used in surf fishing

Surf fishing uses larger hooks than freshwater fishing, which uses more of them. For stripers, 1/0 is a suitable size. Your choice of hook size should be determined by the size of your bait and the kind of fish you intend to catch. For stripers, 1/0 is a suitable size.

Larger fish can easily swallow a smaller hook like this because their jaws are so strong that they can break hooks that are several times their own size.
Other types of surf fishing hook sizes include:
1/0:Rockfish, Striped Bass, and Bass(freshwater)
2/0:Salmon (freshwater), Tuna, and Halibut
3/0-Snapper, Mackerel (freshwater)
4/0-Shark

Cut baits or small baitfish

When using cut baits or small baitfish, you don’t need a particularly large hook; begin with a 3/0 and work your way up from there. Smaller hooks are used for smaller fish (e.g., mackerel) and bigger hooks for bigger fish (e.g., surfperch).

A circular hook with a size 2/0 or 4/0 gauge and some baitfish ought to do the trick. It’s the most effective tool for bringing a fish to the boat.It is a method of fishing that is well accepted, and it is also a strategy that I have always used.

Circe hooks

Circle hooks are designed to snag fish in the corner of their mouth, which makes it simpler for you to remove them from your line without injuring them or causing undue stress. Circle hooks are more effective than other types of hooks.

The larger the circle hook, the deeper it will penetrate into the mouth of your fish, making it more difficult for them to get off the hook before it is taken out of their mouths and returned to the water.

You may think this sounds like good

While you may think this sounds like a good thing—and it can be—it also means that if you’re using baitfish as bait (which we recommend!), then you’ll have more difficulty keeping your line straight when fighting against these larger fish!

Because circle hooks are built for release ways as opposed to impaling methods like J-hooks are, there is also less of a risk involved when releasing larger species such as marlin or tuna when using circle hooks. J-hooks are meant for impaling methods.

Conclusion

Big hooks are the best ones to use if you’re surf fishing because they’re easy to see, but they can also be dangerous. They’re heavy and sharp, so you need gloves when handling them. Another option is buying a set of small hooks.

It’s like size 1/0 that will get lost in your tackle box after one use–but if you plan ahead, this won’t happen! These small hooks can be used for catching smaller fish like mackerel or sanddabs without worrying about losing them too quickly.