How come some fishermen use barbless hooks?
Ho, good question! Some fishermen go for barbless hooks for a few reasons. Numbah one, barbless hooks make it way easier to release fish without causing too much harm. The barb on a regular hook can really buss up a fish’s mouth, especially if you’re doing catch-and-release. With barbless, you can pop that hook out real easy, and the fish has a better chance of swimming away healthy.
Another thing is, in some places, barbless hooks are actually required by law to protect certain fish species or just make it more sustainable. Plus, when you fish with barbless hooks, you gotta pay more attention… gotta keep the line tight, keep the tension, ’cause it’s easier for the fish to spit the hook. Some guys like that extra challenge, you know? Talk about game.
Also, if you’re fishing around kids or just learning, barbless is a safer option for when someone accidentally gets hooked! Been there, done that, haha!
🤙🏼Kai
What’s the best kine hook for catch ulua?
Ahh, catchin’ ulua! Now we talkin’ da big kahuna.! Ulua, or giant trevally (GT), is one of da baddest fish around these waters. You gotta have the right gear if you wanna bring one in without losing ’em. When it comes to hooks, you’re gonna want something strong and sharp… those uluas good fight.
Here’s some solid choices for ulua hooks:
- J Hooks (O’Shaughnessy or Mustad 39960) – These are a solid go-to for ulua fishing. They’re strong, reliable, and perfect for rigging dead bait like octopus (tako) or whole fish. I usually go with 8/0 to 10/0 size, but some guys go bigger depending on what bait they use and the size of the ulua they’re huntin’. You can pick up some here…
- Circle Hooks – These are another great option, especially if you’re into catch-and-release. Circle hooks are designed to hook the fish right in the corner of the mouth, making it easier to release them with out bussing up the mouth too much. For ulua, you want big, sturdy ones… 7/0 or larger. And da cool thing with circle hooks is that you don’t need to set the hook hard… the fish hooks itself when it takes off with the bait! You can pick up some here…
- BKN Hooks (Big Game Hooks) – If you’re going all out for trophy ulua, BKN hooks are like the heavy-duty workhorses. Super strong and reliable for those serious battles when a big 100-pounder is at the end of your line. The BKN 8/0 or 9/0 is a popular choice for ulua hunters here in Hawaii. You can pick up some here…
Always make sure you got a hook that’s rated for heavy poundage ’cause ulua can snap weaker hooks like nothing! And when you rig it, make sure you tie solid knots, maybe double-check ‘em before casting out! Or make sure you crimp’m good if you sliding. Trust me, you don’t wanna lose that beast of a fish after hours of waiting.
Oh, and one more thing… don’t forget your sturdy leader too, like 100- to 200-pound test, depending on the terrain and size of the fish. Ulua hang out around sharp rocks and reefs, so they’ll cut your line easy if you’re not prepped.
🤙🏼Kai
Great post, Kai! I appreciate the insight, especially about why barbless hooks are a good choice for catch-and-release fishing. It makes a lot of sense to use them if you want to give the fish the best chance of surviving after release. I can understand why barbless hooks are safe around kids. I have heard stories from friends that found out the danger of barbed hooks.
As for ulua, your breakdown of hook types was super informative. I’ve always stuck to J hooks, but I’m tempted to try circle hooks now that I know how they work. Thanks for explaining how the fish can hook itself, that’s a neat feature! Do you have any favorite bait that you’d recommend when going for the big ones with these hooks?
– Scott
Hey Scott, I’ll answer this for Kai because I hang out with a lot of ulua fisherman, but prime bait are “Blinky’s” which is fresh tako / octopus and slivers of eel. And yes… circle hooks are the bomb!