Circle Hooks vs. J Hooks: When To Use Each Hook When Fishing With Live Or Cut Bait

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How do you know when to go with a circle hook or a j hook when using live or cut bait?
That's a great question since choosing the wrong type could cause you to lose fish, gut hook fish, or even get fined!
In this video, I'm going to show you the one thing that will determine which style of hook I choose, and it has to do with the type of fishing you're doing.
Now before we dive in, I want to note that this video was just covering how to make that decision based on the type of fishing you're doing.
There are some regions that don't allow j hooks with live bait, so be sure to look up the laws BEFORE you get out on the water and consider this decision.
So if you have any questions about when to use a circle hook vs. a j hook, let me know down in the comments!

[@Saltstrong]

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[@ClackstarsDashCam]

To be honest I fish with 2 rods and have missed so many strikes on Js watched this video moved to circle this guy knows his stuff . cheers 👍

[@roynoblin]

as always very good tips tony. you and luke took me from hit or miss to tight lines. at first i had trouble with circle hooks for reason you mention. i was feeling the strike and snatching it out of their mouth. well luke did a video on j hook which showed me again i was jerking it out of their mouth. watching you catch fish and what luke said showed me, as with circle, which for sure the fish will hook itself, you feel the strike and i see your rod bend as you apply pressure. you do not use the whole body and jerk the heck out of it, you feel and use wrist to just apply pressure. once i realized that i now can use soft lures successfully and will start using j hook for free lining live or dead bait. i would like to add if you just throw it out somewhere and stick in in rod holder i catch lots of cats and sharks but seldom good fish. i feel if your fishing fish. just setting rod in holder is hoping you get lucky and i think is why so many say they can't catch a fish. thanks tony for all the help you have given me.

[@eknight101]

So it seems like circles will take out the guessing and will do the work for you. I like that option better. thanks for the tips sir!

[@gr8gmblr]

Just cleaned my 16' mako. Going to flamingo next Saturday. Thanks for the tips.

[@walttullis6901]

Yeah, I'm a moron. Fairly new to surf fishing but I should have known the difference after a couple of years! Many thanks. Your explanation was simple and very clear. THanks.

[@Roccopaul73]

Brilliant video once again.👊🏼

[@BalkTutkusu]

great info. thanks 👍

[@idontusegmail7102]

great details

[@jelly_fishing]

Great tip Tony

[@alabamasmokeywilson6818]

Great Tips. I need to get some J hooks

[@jamiehoward1906]

I use circle hooks most of the time. When you learn how to use them they are awesome. It took some time not setting the hook on the thump because that's what I was raised up doing.

[@hamitmanooj6007]

So I fish and live in south africa . I moved to circles and hating it for edibles. For my sharks and flat fish yes. They take the bait turn and run so the hook sets on it own. Edibles here feed shy they take the bait and come forward and the hooks does not set.

[@jamiemorgan4147]

What size of hook should I be using for channel cat in the river?

[@Monkmaster1969]

Any difference between the two when you are using a bobber?

[@eddiewooten3158]

What about drift fishing with the circle hook. Set the hook?

[@sajidpatel8817]

Hi sir ...when do I strike the fish using a j hook or circle hooks

[@dennispenton6872]

When fishing a popping cork with a live shrimp, which is your preference, circle or J?

[@sergeydolzhin1846]

If you keep rod in your hand and actively fishing, use J, if you place it in a holder-use circle.

[@d0nkilluminati480]

I’ve been doing this wrong for sooo long lmao. I was just told this by a busy so I looked it up

[@jaysanchez5804]

I use #6 bait hooks and live minnows as my bait. What size circle hook would you suggest for using minnows? I mainly fish freshwater lakes

[@Saltstrong]

#4 or #2 should do it!

[@tomterrific2018]

Tony new to southwest Florida fishin...when using either live or dead bait can I use either J hooks or circle hooks ? Thanks

[@isaac1098]

Hi. I know I’m not tony but with dead bait you should use a circle hook so it automatically hooks itself. Down here by Indian rocks we fish for snook, reds, black drum, pinfish, pinfish, etc. we always use circle hooks so it hooks itself.

[@isaac1098]

Same with live bait if you’re not constantly working the bait

[@jakefromstatefarm9721]

did you not watch the video?

[@isaac1098]

@@jakefromstatefarm9721 yeah he probably didn’t but just helping him out :)

[@bendhilfishing3816]

Good tutorial

[@alexandrosachilleas7162]

I was striper surf fishing of a beach in Maine with baitrunner and 20lbs fluocarbon. I used clam and squid on circle hooks. I was getting big bites but could not catch anything. When that reel was on ( the second light drag.....aka the baitrunner)...for a second or three...they would spit it out the minute I reeled or yanked the rod. Rod is a 10-11 foot Tsunami. Reel is a Shimano baitrunner 4500. I dont know what I was doing wrong but it just didn't work...lost allot of fish...also a very big one...that I had on rod fighting for 1 minute then lost it. Is it the knot on the hook or the size of hook ( #3/0 to 4/0? The rod? Can you please help me....or explain what im doing wrong.🙏? I love to fish with baitrunner for allot of species...i just want it to work for stripers. Thanks

[@Saltstrong]

Thanks for sharing and for watching!

[@asmor804]

You had the fight for 1 minutes means that the hook up was perfect, imo. I suspect the tension on your line become "on and off" because your rod is too stiff for that fish size(you didn't mention the rod lbs but from the length I guess it is more than 17lbs). I don't think your line is being cut by fish teeth or coral as it wasn't mentioned. The suggested knot for circle hook is snell knot and I always check the "dynamic" of my rig, eg by sliding it through edge of any surface and see how it work. If you use barbless circle hook, there is another possibility that everything was perfect in your case but fish was so huge, line was tight, the lips of the fish couldn't handle it and the gap was created, barbless hook may easily go out through that gap. Some fish are big but has soft lips.

[@alexandrosachilleas7162]

@@asmor804 Thanks for taking the time.

[@thuntermi]

I know that this video is geared toward a slightly more general audience, geographically, but I'm still a little confused when it comes to Florida regs. I'm from Michigan, planning to do some trips to the Keys, and my reading of the regs (page 16 of the Florida regs) seems to say that if you are using "natural bait" in Gulf waters, you are required to use non-offset circle hooks. It makes no distinction between live/dead or active/passive. Am I misunderstanding something?

[@nicstr28]

Its reef fish. Just because you're in the gulf doesnt mean you have to use a circle hook

[@thuntermi]

@@nicstr28 Thanks for that clarification. So based on my reading of the regs -- snapper, grouper, and "other reef fish". Plus trout, tarpon, permit, pompano, and sheepshead.

[@anxiousbeachbums]

"Thumbs Up" but...........For now, I'll stick with "J" hooks w/ cut bait. I mean, don't you love that "feel" of "setting the hook"......???......when you crank back, bury the hook and the fight is on. I totally understand the theory. Will keep it in mind. Just personal preference (merely reeling the line tight prior to "the battle" is just missing something).

[@KingTheDetailer]

I agree with you that's like going fishing with a electric reel , what's the point of fishing if you take the fundamentals out of it. I like setting the hook and feeling when it's set that's the best part you surprise the fish and you get a better fight

[@Miller1204]

110%..

[@Miller1204]

@@KingTheDetailer awesome comment

[@over1498]

@@KingTheDetailer In many places it's illegal to use anything but a circle hook on the target species. Or you go out and just don't feel like killing half the fish you hook! Just saying, it's usually not due to skill or the feeling.

[@TheIconicFisherman]

​@@over1498 I mean the whole reason circle hooks are the only hooks allowed in some places is because some Karen's had some connections in the government do you really think the government really cares if a fish dies I don't. And honestly chances are the government doesn't even care about us and just wants power over the masses so they can get rich my point is America should be a free country like the forefathers intended it to be. And how the forefathers intended it to be was for the people to control the power in this country and for the government to be overseers of that power not for the government to control the power in this country and the people to be the overseers of that power. And if you read the American Constitution they clearly state that but then again people would rather have convenience than have to work to keep their country together which honestly is kind of lazy and pathetic.

[@turtlei69]

Florida State Law requires non-offset non-stainless hooks when fishing the reefs.

[@peterbrucker798]

When allowed by regulations, I always use J hooks with an offset. Active or passive fishing. But I am a meat gatherer , if its a legal catch, then I plan on consuming it. I only fish the coast when vacationing so my time is limited and the frequency at the beach is minimal when compared to locals. Hence J Hooks are superior in many but not all ways.

[@Saltstrong]

Thanks for the feedback!

[@jeffreybabino8161]

Hi I always see a lot of j hooks in the store and not much of circle hooks why is that thanks

[@Saltstrong]

Not sure why that is. Circle hooks are used pretty often and mandatory in some areas/situations.

[@jeffreybabino8161]

Ok thanks tony

[@jeffreybabino8161]

The state says that we have to use circle hooks from inshore to off shore

[@Saltstrong]

Thanks!

[@michaelfredericksantos1598]

i need that circle hook newbie like me...

[@Saltstrong]

Circle hooks are the best option! fishstrong.com/products/owner-mutu-light-circle-hooks?variant=40388505338030

[@jayzhou104]

shouldnt matter that much. All that matter is to locate the fish. Then no matter what hook you use you will catch fish lol

[@colbyclark2479]

Wrong