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Post by carlf on Feb 20, 2019 9:33:42 GMT -5
In FL, if you are fishing live/natural bait for mangroves, grouper and other reef fish inshore (not offshore), do you have to use non-offset circle hooks?
Can you use treble hooks with live/natural bait for kings, Spanish, etc.? If you cannot, what hooks do y'all use on your King rigs?
Rules seem a lot different than they are up here in AL, want to make sure I get it right when I move down this summer.
Getting closer, we will most likely close on our house by April 1 and I start work in Tampa mid-May!
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Post by tears143 on Feb 20, 2019 9:41:14 GMT -5
For kings/macks, you can use treble hooks.
As for mango, you suppose to use non-offset circle hooks... but you don't need to. A j hook is fine. Main reason is as long as you don't leave your rod alone to reduce the number of gut hook fish.
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Post by YodaFisherman on Feb 21, 2019 7:35:57 GMT -5
I use nothing but non-offset circle hooks now. I have learned how to effectively use them. It took some time to deprogram myself, but I finally stopped doing the quick hookset that was automatic due to 30+ years developing an instinct to set the hook. Now that I use the circle hook properly, my success for hooksets is at least as good and maybe better. You just have to resist jerking the rod and let the hook do the work.
I still leave the trebles on lures.
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Post by carlf on Feb 21, 2019 10:09:51 GMT -5
I used circle hooks for snapper, AJs, grouper, etc., back when I owned an offshore boat. They worked great once you re-trained yourself not to jerk the hook. Small light wire ones worked great for lanes, beeliners, porgies, etc., too when used on 2 hook dropper rigs.
I've never used them for kings or spanish but would seem that they would work just as well.
I have a bunch of light wire offset ones in size 1 & 1/0 I can use inshore. I know in federal waters I will need non-offset.
Thanks guys!
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Post by Mackerelman on Feb 21, 2019 10:22:18 GMT -5
In My Opinion, a Long Shank J-Hook works best for Mackerel. Trying to get a Circle Hook out of a Mackerel may be Dangerous to Your Health with them having those sharp teeth.  |
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Post by parkpass on Feb 21, 2019 17:04:08 GMT -5
Try getting a treble hook out of a mack's mouth, if his teeth don't bleed you the treble will
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Post by twgdotcom on Feb 23, 2019 18:25:05 GMT -5
I’ve caught my share of macks on a circle hook, but it’s because I was using live greenies fishing for mangos. Sometimes that just happens. More often they’ll just bite you off using a circle hook because there’s no way to keep the line away from those teeth. Thus the recommendation for a long shank hook. Either way, I’m not unhooking a mack without my pliers.
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Post by justfishin2 on Feb 24, 2019 7:38:46 GMT -5
In FL, if you are fishing live/natural bait for mangroves, grouper and other reef fish inshore (not offshore), do you have to use non-offset circle hooks? Can you use treble hooks with live/natural bait for kings, Spanish, etc.? If you cannot, what hooks do y'all use on your King rigs? Carlf, here are the rules from the FWC regulation page on Reef Fishing in the Gulf - state or fed waters. State Waters of the Gulf of Mexico Required Gear Circle Hooks (Must be non-stainless steel and not offset) when using natural baits. State and federal regulations require all commercial fishers and recreational anglers fishing for any reef fish species to have and use certain gear. Reef fish species include groupers, snappers, amberjacks, triggerfish, porgies, should ea bass, hogfish and tilefish. So if your fishing for any of these reef fish with natural bait you Must you a circle hook. As for the Mack’s, here’s what the FWC says. Spanish Mackerel Regulations Gulf and Atlantic State Waters - Gear Requirements: Legal Gear: beach or haul seine, cast net, hook and line, spear. As as you can see, you are free to use any type of hook you desire. I agree with the others a J hook is preferred in my opinion, but I do use spoons with trebles. Always keep a needle nose pliers handy, them teeth are dangerous. 🤪 |
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Post by justfishin2 on Feb 24, 2019 7:43:29 GMT -5
Sorry for the typo,
So if your fishing for any of these reef fish with natural bait you Must you a circle hook. It should read must use a circle hook.
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Post by snookninja on Feb 25, 2019 11:08:49 GMT -5
Talking about trebles, I hate to use them, I switch out all my trebles to inline singles on lures when possible. I use circles instead of J's and like most took me a while to stop setting the hook.
I did a Pulley Ridge trip a few months back in 250 ft of water and had way more success with circle hooks.
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