Thread: Heavy surf hook

They have a high mortality rate on fishys

Originally Posted by realspeed

They have a high mortality rate on fishes

Never heard that before. I dont use Kahle hooks, can someone who does, comment?

I use #4 Mustad kahles and the larger 2/0 size of the same hook (model 37141)in she surf and I personally haven't noticed a higher gut hook rate over other traditional long shank or baitholder "j" hooks. They are no circle hook by any means in the way of reliable jaw hookups, but they are my go-to pomp/whiting hook and pierce those little rubbery mouths easily. I've gone back to the wide gap kahle for specifically targeting pompano after fishing with some commercial pompano fishermen out of St. Augustine.

I still use Owner Mutu Light circles on the pier and surf for other light tackle applications such as redfish, black drum, rays, etc.

That they hook in such a manner as to pretty much guarantee the fish will not survive--hooks em in gills or gut

My experience with them has been just the opposite---they work for me much like circle hooks. There have been a couple of occasions when, due to my inattention, the fish had plenty of time to swallow the hook, but this was always with a small bait and larger fish---they mostly are hooked in the corner of the mouth and lips.

Originally Posted by Haywire

My experience with them has been just the opposite---they work for me much like circle hooks. There have been a couple of occasions when, due to my inattention, the fish had plenty of time to swallow the hook, but this was always with a small bait and larger fish---they mostly are hooked in the corner of the mouth and lips.

I use them for double drop pomp rigs and I have caught slot reds and specks on these rigs. They don't seem to kill them. Except hard heads and that could be because of the way I treat them.

We fished with a guide in Rockport TX and he used Kahles with live finger mullet. The only ones we killed were the ones that were legal length.

Originally Posted by Haywire

My experience with them has been just the opposite---they work for me much like circle hooks. There have been a couple of occasions when, due to my inattention, the fish had plenty of time to swallow the hook, but this was always with a small bait and larger fish---they mostly are hooked in the corner of the mouth and lips.

Same here Haywire, ya beat me to it?

Thanks for all the replies