I've just bought a couple of boxes of Mustad 4/0 open eyes for making up my own gangs. Good size hook for smaller and larger Mulies I reckon as you can go 3 or 4 hooks per gang. They'll bring in the big boys. The only trouble I had on my last expedition was the shit snap swivels I had in my box opening up when bringing fish in. Hopefully got that sorted now with some Shoguns. C'mon next weekend I'm hanging for a fish......
Gang of 3 4/0s generally for mulies, they are just to hold the bait, a stinger on the end catches the fish, I make my own rigs and the trebble on the end gets pinned in the tail so it doesnt hang down, seem to get better hook up rate. Can get these premade at shops, bcf has mako ones I think
I agree with getting rid of the trebles on the end. I used to use them and found they were more of a pain than anything helping catch weed etc. Haven't noticed any difference with hookup rate since dropping them off. I use 3 x 5/0 mustard kirby's which are perfect for a bigger specimen joining the party as said above. Just make sure your hooks have an offset bend which will help stop the hooks pulling free. I caught a couple of herring on the 5/0's this morning and bagged out with tailor so I couldn't be happier with their performance.
I reckon the trebles would come into their own for floating mulies (from the boat). We did that a fair bit up north this year and had quite a few hits and runs on the baits but lost a few as well. So with the trebs I reckon we would'a had a better hook up rate.
Same as Mattb123, I use tarpons if there is a chance of bigger fish or a Mulla. Not a fan of the treble can do lots of damage to fish you want to release
I never had a issue with the trebbles when I used to bait cast mulies for tailor years ago, use light gear, go easy on the fish and keep the rod tip down, most the time u loose one is when it jumps. Even recently I tried singles on my lures I troll for tailor and lost more fish, maybe the trebbles are more suited to the light gear, I troll using 1-2kg rods with 4lb braid. Duno why every friggen lure ever sold has trebbles if they are so shit.......
They should ban trebles on the end of gangs, they can mutilate a fishes mouth and if it has to go back, then it's chance of survival deminishes dramatically. That's why I use a 2/0 on the end, so if a smaller tailor, or a herring comes along, they will still easily hook themselves up and can easily be released intact to fight another day.
I tend to agree with you Dale. Trebles are bad for the fish. The art of fishing is something that needs to be refined. Presenting a good bait without a treble is not that hard and will give a good hook-up rate with the right hook selection. So far as gangs are concerned I match to the bait size. I prefer Tarpons as they are stronger and sharper. The size is again dependant of the bait.
Quad I have used those gamakatsu gangster hooks for a couple of years and agree their hook up rate on tailor is second to none. They dont rust, are one of the strongest and are very easy to gang. The major flaw (apart from the price) with them is they open up gradually and you find you lose a hook or 2 off the end every now and then. This happens considerably more if your bait has fallen off and they are just bouncing around in the surf. I think this is caused by the offset eye position on the hook (similar to an octopus hook) as this can restrict their movement also
Now I am using some shogun hooks that come with a open eye for ganging and they have been very good though not as strong as the gamakatsu but I have landed several sharks to 1.5m on them and a shovelnose that was pushing 8ft long so thats good enough for me. The shoguns rust after one use which is a downside but they are alot cheaper. I have been using these for nearly a year now and will continue.
I dont really rate the mustard style gang hooks perosnally
as for hooks size metro I would be fishing the smallest mulies you can find with 3/0 or 4/0 hooks or a combination as others have mentioned.
If your heading north or far south I would step up to 5/0 and use bigger mulies
The upside for rusting hooks is that they will fall out of the mouth of a fish that gets away with a rig in its mouth much quicker. I agree with your comments re: Mustad. Crap stuff IMO. Also agree with small Mullies. I love the baby mullies when they are available. I use 3/0 or 2/0 Tarpons. Great for anything really. Herring will hook up on them, Tailor, Flathead and, belive it or not, I have taken smaller Mulloway on them.
Well I'll be giving the Mustad hooks a good run over the next month Vince and will let you know. Have you had them break? Just curious as to why you think they are crap?I agree Tarpons are the most superior hook but haven't been able to find them locally where I am.
Maybe we are being a bit harsh. They are cheap and they do the trick. Just not strong IMO and they do rust very quickly. I am sure you will do OK. I prefer much sharper hooks that don't bend in a hurry. Rig is at the top end of the town. I err in that direction but admit to carrying a couple of boxes of Mustad Tarpons in my kit. I've never had a Tarpon break or bend. Mind you I have lost a few in my time LOL.
Agree with Vince on the Mustard tarpons, been using them for decades and though you may snap an eye while trying to gang them I will keep buying them.
There is another maker of tarpons and a point to remember is that they are cheaper and of no where near the same quality steel in them, have tried them and straightened many out where as it doesn''t happen with the genuine ones.
those pre made rigs with trebles are crap had trebles straighten and the amount of times those crap swivels break wont go back.Tarpons are good enough for me.
The thing I dont like about mustards is they are a thick gauge hook that dont come out of the packed too sharp. That being said they would have caught millions of fish over the years. I have just noticed some different types of hooks have a much better strike rate.
Now settled in Pingelly and lapping up country living. Headed for a trip to Harvey this arvo for a day or two to give the Trout and Red Fin a hit. 2 1/2 hours only and great camping. Back late tomorrow probably. I'll give you a buz at some stage and update.
Even chemical sharpened hooks need a bit off attention IMO, even if they feel like you can shave.
I dont bother sharpening hooks for Bread and butter fishing, but when I am after quality I always file the end with a hook sharpener. It only takes a second or 2, and can get rid of burrs that cant be noticed. I call this attention to detail and it has stood the test of time.
When I can be bothered I also sharpen all hooks for whiting fishing, and have noticed an improved bite/hookup rate. Might be more that I fill in the diary when I do something different, and dont when it is run off the mill.
I would be interested in others opinion. Will start a thread.
Just an update on this. Used the 4/0 Mustads on the weekend. They are very sharp due a few new holes in my hands ;). Landed a few nice Tailor up to 550mm. Also a a Ray I guessed at 25-30kg no probs at all with the hooks. If I do find them though I will get some Tarpons.
MattMiller
Posts: 4171
Date Joined: 15/06/09
What size
Tailor are you targetting?
jfawkes
Posts: 38
Date Joined: 01/01/13
I want to get big ones but
I want to get big ones but I'm not really sure?
AlwaysFishin
Posts: 644
Date Joined: 13/11/11
Depends on the size mulies
Depends on the size mulies you can get, but generally a gang of 3 3/0 or 4/0 does the trick.
Dale
Posts: 7930
Date Joined: 13/09/05
I use a gang of 3 x 3/0s or
I use a gang of 3 x 3/0s or 4/0s, depending on the bait size and I'll usually have a 2/0 as my last hook, on the bottom.
this always works well for me.
Chhers
Dale
"Just because you are a Character, Doesn't mean you have Character."
Mr Wolf
sea-kem
Posts: 15129
Date Joined: 30/11/09
I've just bought a couple of
I've just bought a couple of boxes of Mustad 4/0 open eyes for making up my own gangs. Good size hook for smaller and larger Mulies I reckon as you can go 3 or 4 hooks per gang. They'll bring in the big boys. The only trouble I had on my last expedition was the shit snap swivels I had in my box opening up when bringing fish in. Hopefully got that sorted now with some Shoguns. C'mon next weekend I'm hanging for a fish......
Love the West!
Terry
Posts: 458
Date Joined: 04/12/05
6/0
6/0's for me . Ganged x 4. If the mulies or bait is a bit small then just use the bottom 3.
If a big fish come by, maybe a mulloway, then you have hooks strong enough to catch him.
The above has proven effective for myself here in the mid west.
If you are chasing bait size tailor then the smaller hooks will suffice. Plus you can pick up the trusty Herring too.
tim-o
Posts: 4657
Date Joined: 24/05/11
Gang of 3 4/0s generally for
Gang of 3 4/0s generally for mulies, they are just to hold the bait, a stinger on the end catches the fish, I make my own rigs and the trebble on the end gets pinned in the tail so it doesnt hang down, seem to get better hook up rate. Can get these premade at shops, bcf has mako ones I think
I am, as I've said, merely competent. But in an age of incompetence, that makes me extraordinary.
brg
Posts: 666
Date Joined: 31/12/09
forget the trebles on the
forget the trebles on the back you want a big hook in the tail imo.Best way to loose a big tailor with pulled hooks i rekon.each to there own though.
WSHN4FSHN
Posts: 224
Date Joined: 19/09/12
+1
I agree with getting rid of the trebles on the end. I used to use them and found they were more of a pain than anything helping catch weed etc. Haven't noticed any difference with hookup rate since dropping them off. I use 3 x 5/0 mustard kirby's which are perfect for a bigger specimen joining the party as said above. Just make sure your hooks have an offset bend which will help stop the hooks pulling free. I caught a couple of herring on the 5/0's this morning and bagged out with tailor so I couldn't be happier with their performance.
Burley it and they will come.
sea-kem
Posts: 15129
Date Joined: 30/11/09
I reckon the trebles would
I reckon the trebles would come into their own for floating mulies (from the boat). We did that a fair bit up north this year and had quite a few hits and runs on the baits but lost a few as well. So with the trebs I reckon we would'a had a better hook up rate.
Love the West!
anypuddle
Posts: 597
Date Joined: 22/01/12
mustad
mustad 7766D 4/0 open them up with side cutters, gang of 4 lie nice and straight,strong and sharpen up well.
Anywhere anytime
EKUL
Posts: 179
Date Joined: 05/01/13
Exact same
Exact same hooks but using 3 x 5/0, nice hooks cant fault them!!
Mattb123
Posts: 126
Date Joined: 09/01/13
I use 3x4/0 with a bottom
I use 3x4/0 with a bottom 3/0. may use a treble baitcasting but never on a bottom rig.
bws
Posts: 19
Date Joined: 08/10/12
Same as Mattb123, I use
Same as Mattb123, I use tarpons if there is a chance of bigger fish or a Mulla. Not a fan of the treble can do lots of damage to fish you want to release
Cheers
BWS
tim-o
Posts: 4657
Date Joined: 24/05/11
I never had a issue with the
I never had a issue with the trebbles when I used to bait cast mulies for tailor years ago, use light gear, go easy on the fish and keep the rod tip down, most the time u loose one is when it jumps. Even recently I tried singles on my lures I troll for tailor and lost more fish, maybe the trebbles are more suited to the light gear, I troll using 1-2kg rods with 4lb braid. Duno why every friggen lure ever sold has trebbles if they are so shit.......
I am, as I've said, merely competent. But in an age of incompetence, that makes me extraordinary.
quadfisher
Posts: 1146
Date Joined: 28/09/10
Black attack
Trying a hook called gangters, from' come a gutts a'
hook fanatics know what I mean , gamagatsu or whatever.
There chemicaly sharpened, high tensile type hooks, black in a 4/0
The eye is softer of course , so there easy to close up, and have had no failures so far
even after hooking and skull dragging some eagle rays in.
They are super sharp, and you have to be bloody careful with them if you are used to the old style zinc/galv type hooks, but they work
having hooked herring in the side, and silver bream too, that are just milling around the bait.
Goes without saying they hook tailor very well ,esp in rough conditions , when you are not in direct contact with the bait.
quadfisher
Dale
Posts: 7930
Date Joined: 13/09/05
They should ban trebles on
They should ban trebles on the end of gangs, they can mutilate a fishes mouth and if it has to go back, then it's chance of survival deminishes dramatically. That's why I use a 2/0 on the end, so if a smaller tailor, or a herring comes along, they will still easily hook themselves up and can easily be released intact to fight another day.
Cheers
Dale
"Just because you are a Character, Doesn't mean you have Character."
Mr Wolf
UncutTriggerInWA
Posts: 2692
Date Joined: 05/09/08
Trebles
I tend to agree with you Dale. Trebles are bad for the fish. The art of fishing is something that needs to be refined. Presenting a good bait without a treble is not that hard and will give a good hook-up rate with the right hook selection. So far as gangs are concerned I match to the bait size. I prefer Tarpons as they are stronger and sharper. The size is again dependant of the bait.
Vince.
Work smart and fish often.
Member and die-hard supporter of the mighty West Coast Eagles.
Rig
Posts: 2925
Date Joined: 27/12/06
gamakatsu
Quad I have used those gamakatsu gangster hooks for a couple of years and agree their hook up rate on tailor is second to none. They dont rust, are one of the strongest and are very easy to gang. The major flaw (apart from the price) with them is they open up gradually and you find you lose a hook or 2 off the end every now and then. This happens considerably more if your bait has fallen off and they are just bouncing around in the surf. I think this is caused by the offset eye position on the hook (similar to an octopus hook) as this can restrict their movement also
Now I am using some shogun hooks that come with a open eye for ganging and they have been very good though not as strong as the gamakatsu but I have landed several sharks to 1.5m on them and a shovelnose that was pushing 8ft long so thats good enough for me. The shoguns rust after one use which is a downside but they are alot cheaper. I have been using these for nearly a year now and will continue.
I dont really rate the mustard style gang hooks perosnally
as for hooks size metro I would be fishing the smallest mulies you can find with 3/0 or 4/0 hooks or a combination as others have mentioned.
If your heading north or far south I would step up to 5/0 and use bigger mulies
UncutTriggerInWA
Posts: 2692
Date Joined: 05/09/08
I see you are hard at work again LOL
The upside for rusting hooks is that they will fall out of the mouth of a fish that gets away with a rig in its mouth much quicker. I agree with your comments re: Mustad. Crap stuff IMO. Also agree with small Mullies. I love the baby mullies when they are available. I use 3/0 or 2/0 Tarpons. Great for anything really. Herring will hook up on them, Tailor, Flathead and, belive it or not, I have taken smaller Mulloway on them.
Vince.
Work smart and fish often.
Member and die-hard supporter of the mighty West Coast Eagles.
sea-kem
Posts: 15129
Date Joined: 30/11/09
Well I'll be giving the
Well I'll be giving the Mustad hooks a good run over the next month Vince and will let you know. Have you had them break? Just curious as to why you think they are crap?I agree Tarpons are the most superior hook but haven't been able to find them locally where I am.
Love the West!
UncutTriggerInWA
Posts: 2692
Date Joined: 05/09/08
Mustads
Maybe we are being a bit harsh. They are cheap and they do the trick. Just not strong IMO and they do rust very quickly. I am sure you will do OK. I prefer much sharper hooks that don't bend in a hurry. Rig is at the top end of the town. I err in that direction but admit to carrying a couple of boxes of Mustad Tarpons in my kit. I've never had a Tarpon break or bend. Mind you I have lost a few in my time LOL.
Vince.
Work smart and fish often.
Member and die-hard supporter of the mighty West Coast Eagles.
sea-kem
Posts: 15129
Date Joined: 30/11/09
Had a 5/0 Tarpon bitten in
Had a 5/0 Tarpon bitten in half by a boltcutter once that then proceeded to have a go at my feet in the surf, bastard things.
Love the West!
carnarvonite
Posts: 8691
Date Joined: 24/07/07
Mustad tarpons
Agree with Vince on the Mustard tarpons, been using them for decades and though you may snap an eye while trying to gang them I will keep buying them.
There is another maker of tarpons and a point to remember is that they are cheaper and of no where near the same quality steel in them, have tried them and straightened many out where as it doesn''t happen with the genuine ones.
brg
Posts: 666
Date Joined: 31/12/09
those pre made rigs with
those pre made rigs with trebles are crap had trebles straighten and the amount of times those crap swivels break wont go back.Tarpons are good enough for me.
Rig
Posts: 2925
Date Joined: 27/12/06
penetration
The thing I dont like about mustards is they are a thick gauge hook that dont come out of the packed too sharp. That being said they would have caught millions of fish over the years. I have just noticed some different types of hooks have a much better strike rate.
these are the ones I like now
http://www.wellsystackle.com/sunshop/index.php?l=product_detail&p=1027
Tarpons as long as they are sharp are fine also, open eye hooks save you the hassle
@ Vince yes mate at work dreaming of fishing, you've been quiet?
UncutTriggerInWA
Posts: 2692
Date Joined: 05/09/08
Have made the tree change mate
Now settled in Pingelly and lapping up country living. Headed for a trip to Harvey this arvo for a day or two to give the Trout and Red Fin a hit. 2 1/2 hours only and great camping. Back late tomorrow probably. I'll give you a buz at some stage and update.
Vince.
Work smart and fish often.
Member and die-hard supporter of the mighty West Coast Eagles.
Dale
Posts: 7930
Date Joined: 13/09/05
I use Tarpons a lot and I
I use Tarpons a lot and I always run a small file over the tips befure using and they come up razor sharp.
Cheers
Dale
"Just because you are a Character, Doesn't mean you have Character."
Mr Wolf
Rig
Posts: 2925
Date Joined: 27/12/06
sharp out of the pack
if your paying good money for hooks they should be sharp out of the pack
crasny1
Posts: 7009
Date Joined: 16/10/08
Agree and disagree
Even chemical sharpened hooks need a bit off attention IMO, even if they feel like you can shave.
I dont bother sharpening hooks for Bread and butter fishing, but when I am after quality I always file the end with a hook sharpener. It only takes a second or 2, and can get rid of burrs that cant be noticed. I call this attention to detail and it has stood the test of time.
When I can be bothered I also sharpen all hooks for whiting fishing, and have noticed an improved bite/hookup rate. Might be more that I fill in the diary when I do something different, and dont when it is run off the mill.
I would be interested in others opinion. Will start a thread.
Cheers
Neels
"I would like to die on Mars. Just not on impact!!" _ Elon Musk
jfawkes
Posts: 38
Date Joined: 01/01/13
thanks for your help guys
thanks for your help guys very much appreciated
sea-kem
Posts: 15129
Date Joined: 30/11/09
Just an update on this. Used
Just an update on this. Used the 4/0 Mustads on the weekend. They are very sharp due a few new holes in my hands ;). Landed a few nice Tailor up to 550mm. Also a a Ray I guessed at 25-30kg no probs at all with the hooks. If I do find them though I will get some Tarpons.
Love the West!