One of the most important aspects of an angler’s success is bringing the right tools for the job. This means you want to have the perfect rod, reel, line, and, of course, the right hook for the job.
Choosing the right hook can be made a whole lot easier if you understand all the different sizes of hooks and their purposes. Not all fishing hooks are created equal!
In this guide, you’ll learn everything you need to know about the different parts of a fishing hook and all about the various sizes.
Fishing Hook Sizes
Finding which hook size you need to select requires going through some measurements in order to make your final choice.
There are two numbers that you will see when it comes to the size with the first number being the size and the second being the aught.
The smallest hook is a size 30 and then the number reduces as it increases in size.
After it reaches size 1, it goes to 1/0 which is one aught, and then 2/0 and so on until you get to 27/0 which is incredibly big and never really used.
The most important thing to bear in mind is that the sizes vary depending on the brand.
Therefore, it’s best if you choose one brand and stick to them as a 1/0 hook from Eagle Claw may be different from a 1/0 hook by Mustad.
Hook Gap, Gauge, and Length
Gap
The gap is the distance between the point and the shank which is how wide the hook is. It is measured as 2X Wide or 3X Wide and so on.
Gauge
The gauge dictates how thick the metal of the hook is and can range from fine to heavy wire but there are even thicker hooks available that are labelled as 2X Heavy.
Length
Lastly, the length shows how long the shank is with the number increasing the longer the shank is. As expected, this is written down as 2X Long or 3X Long.
Final Thoughts
Hopefully, this guide will have pointed you in the right direction so that you can catch the biggest fish, or even the smallest fish if that’s what you’re after.
Either way, you’re going to need the perfect sized hook.
Refer to this guide any time you’re having trouble deciding which fishing hook to use based on the size of your target species and the bait you’re using. Good luck and tight lines!
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