TackleChoice

Hook sizes

What size hook for surf fishing

Surf hook sizes run from about 1/0 for small baits up to 8/0 for a big chunk of cut bait, and almost everything fished on the bottom from a beach goes on a circle hook. Redfish on shrimp, sand fleas or crab take 1/0 to 5/0. Striped bass on live eels or cut bunker take 5/0 to 8/0. Bucktail jigs and plugs come with their own hooks already sized to the lure.

Find my hook size Full hook size chart

Striped Bass from the beach

The main inshore and surf gamefish of the US Atlantic coast, and a serious reservoir fish inland. Everything about striper tackle is built around current and around fish that can run. Full striped bass guide.

Surf fishing hook sizes for striped bass, by bait
Bait or lure Hook size Hook style On the beach
Live eel 5/0–6/0 Circle hook Hook once through the lower and upper jaw so the eel swims straight. Wet hands or a rag make an eel possible to hold; dry hands make it impossible.
Cut bait 7/0–8/0 Circle hook Leave the point fully exposed. Fresher is better than bigger; oily cut bait loses its scent trail within an hour or two.
Bucktail jig 4/0–5/0 Jig hook (leadhead) Pick the head weight for the current, not the fish: heavy enough to hold bottom contact and no heavier. The hook is part of the jig, so weight and hook size are chosen together.
Topwater lure #2–2/0 Treble hook Wait until you feel weight before setting. Setting on the splash pulls the bait away from the fish.
Casting or trolling spoon #1–3/0 Treble hook Use a quality swivel. Spoons twist line badly without one, and twisted line is the main cause of wind knots.

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Redfish from the beach

The signature inshore fish of the Gulf and South Atlantic. Shallow water, oyster and grass mean the leader does more work here than the line does. Full redfish guide.

Surf fishing hook sizes for redfish, by bait
Bait or lure Hook size Hook style On the beach
Live or fresh shrimp 2/0–4/0 Circle hook Hook through the horn from underneath, avoiding the dark spot, or through the last tail segment for a longer cast.
Sand flea or sand crab 1/0–3/0 Circle hook Point up through the digger end so the flea sits naturally in the wash.
Blue crab or crab chunk 3/0–5/0 Circle hook Remove the top shell and run the hook out through a leg socket so the point sits clear. Half a crab out-fishes a whole one because the scent is released.
Cut bait 4/0–6/0 Circle hook Leave the point fully exposed. Fresher is better than bigger; oily cut bait loses its scent trail within an hour or two.
Bucktail jig 1/0–3/0 Jig hook (leadhead) Pick the head weight for the current, not the fish: heavy enough to hold bottom contact and no heavier. The hook is part of the jig, so weight and hook size are chosen together.
Topwater lure #2–2/0 Treble hook Wait until you feel weight before setting. Setting on the splash pulls the bait away from the fish.
Casting or trolling spoon 2/0–4/0 J hook Use a quality swivel. Spoons twist line badly without one, and twisted line is the main cause of wind knots.

Scroll the table sideways to see every column.

Why circle hooks are the default in the surf

Bait fished from a beach usually sits in a sand spike while you watch the rod tip. You are not holding the rod when the fish takes, which is exactly the situation a circle hook is designed for: the fish turns, the hook slides to the corner of the jaw and sets itself. A J hook in the same situation is set late and catches deep.

Several states also require non-offset circle hooks when fishing with bait for striped bass. That rule changes, and it varies by state, so check your agency before the trip rather than at the truck.

Do not set the hook

When the rod loads, pick it up and reel steadily. Swinging on a circle hook pulls it straight out of the fish's mouth, which is the single most common reason people say circle hooks do not work.

Circle hook

Point curved back toward the shank so the hook slides to the corner of the jaw and turns as the fish swims away.

Sizing: Circle hooks run visibly smaller than a J hook of the same printed size, so most anglers step up one or two sizes when switching.

Watch out: Do not set the hook. Let the rod load and reel steadily. A hard swing pulls the hook out of the fish's mouth.

Jig hook (leadhead)

A hook moulded into a weighted head. Hook size and head weight are chosen separately.

Sizing: Package weight in ounces tells you sink rate, not hook size. A 1/16 oz crappie head and a 1/2 oz bass jig can carry very different hooks.

Watch out: Pick the head weight for the depth and current you are actually fishing, then check that the hook matches the bait.

Treble hook

Three points on a common shank, used as factory hardware on crankbaits, jerkbaits, topwater and spoons.

Sizing: Treble sizing runs on the same printed ladder but the practical range is much smaller. Most freshwater hard baits carry #8 to #2, with 1/0 to 4/0 on larger saltwater plugs.

Watch out: Changing treble size changes how a lure runs. Going up a size can kill the action of a small crankbait or sink a topwater.

J hook

The general-purpose bait hook shape most people picture when they think of a fish hook. Straight or slightly offset point, moderate shank.

Sizing: Printed sizes are consistent within a model family but not across brands. Compare gap width, not the number.

Watch out: Because the point faces the shank, a J hook set late tends to catch deep. If you are fishing bait on a rod holder, a circle hook is the better tool.

What changes the size

  • The bait, not the fish. A sand flea and a half a bunker are four hook sizes apart even when the same fish eats both. Size the hook so the point sits clear of the bait and the bait still looks natural in the wash.
  • Which fish is actually running. Slot-sized redfish and a school of bass are very different from a run of bull reds or forty inch stripers. If big fish are around, go up rather than hoping.
  • Salt destroys hook points. Check the point against a thumbnail every few casts. A dulled or rusted point is far more likely to cost you a fish than being one size off.
  • Regulations. Circle hook requirements, barbless rules and species closures all apply on the beach. They are set by your state fish and wildlife agency and change in season.

Get a size for the fish you are actually after

The Hook Size Finder takes your species, bait and technique and gives you a size, a style and the reasoning behind it.

Find my hook size

Related hook size guides

Build the rest of the surf setup

Species caught in the surf