I snell circle hooks all the time.
Size 8/0 gamakatzu octopus circles, mixing hooks shouldnt matter too much i have used regular J hooks snelled with circles it hasnt changed the bait presentation except the J hook loses bait more easily.

circles are hard to hold when snelling they keep falling out my fingers. 

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You couln't wipe that grin fom my face even with a hammer.

I suppose you could snell any type of hook, but they are best used with offset eyes...the line just sits more "naturally" along the hook shank. I don't recall ever seeing a circle hook with an offset eye, but that would be the go.

I only ever use circles in single hook patterns, but because snells are among the best knots to use when you're dealing with the heavier mono (80-125 lb) found on bottom rigs, I snell them anyway.

For my double snelled rigs, I use Mustad Big Reds, which are basically an octopus/beak style hook, with the offset eye. 2/0's for King George, 5/0's for snapper, 5/0-8/0 combo for dhufish.

An offset eye  is just like off a little bit right? As that is what my gamaz have. I wouldnt snell a straight hook.

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You couln't wipe that grin fom my face even with a hammer.

that's the one! As I said, don't recall seeing one but then I've never really looked either. Always just assumed circles wouldn't have the offset, so I assumed wrong!

I think they are great for mulies and squid, a bite in the wrong place and its all over.  

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You couln't wipe that grin fom my face even with a hammer.

It is possible to snell straight eyed hooks if you want to give a "bent hook" type presentation to a "j" hook.

It is widely known that a bent hook will turn and catch in the fishes mouth a lot more then the normal "J" hook ever will. The bent hook tends to turn, as the fish backs off, and the point will dig in.

That is the principle of how the circle hook works. The only bummer with the Bent Hook is that they are a right bitch to get out of the fishes mouth, without causing damage, as the dig right in, sometimes right up to the eye.

This is ok if you are wanting a feed, but if you are catch and release the damage can be horrendous.

The way we got around this was to use a fairly stiff hook length and "Knotless Knot" it to a straight eyed hook with the hook length leaving from the front of the eye.

This principle created a bent hook but would be a lot easier to get out of the fishes mouth without any damage.

If you used a hook with the eye turned towards the hook point more of a bent hook type curve was produced, which gives you all the self hooking properties but without the bent hooks tendency to not come out when you tried to unhook them.

Keith

The

West

Australian

Turtle

Society 

If the hooks wernt so bloody expensive id cut the line.

How are you supposed to strike on a circle hook i have heard so many different theories does anyone know what works best?  

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You couln't wipe that grin fom my face even with a hammer.

Leave the rod in the rod holder works best other wise just slowly and i mean slowly lift the rod. On the billfish sometimes they eat the bait and then come back into the spread and what we do here is slowly wind in till we feel the weight of the fish and then go to strike drag. Circle in the corner of the mouth every time!!!

Deckhand and member of the Gotone Woodvale team

Bottom fishing, always strike with circles

Something i've only jst learnt, but works better than letting the fish hook themselves.

offset circles are different to true circle hooks, if you strike with a true circle your wasting your time.
Deckhand and member of the Gotone Woodvale team

I have used taiwanas, the gamas and the gladiator circles for bottom fishing.

I didn't hook up at all without striking.

Taiwanas are deadly why do you think all the charter operaters use them??? mono lines in 120m, striking does absolutly nuthing in that amount of water. take some while getting use to with braid.
Thats why i still fish with a standard suicide pattern, carnt resist striking. the only time i fish circles is deep 300m+ and then i free spool after a bite and then crank the reel in low gear and slowly wind till i load up.
Deckhand and member of the Gotone Woodvale team

If you snood the hook, you dont need to use the eye. Very strong too. Not sure if circles work better if they are freer swinging though?

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Always interested in someone to go fishing with

Don't know what you mean?

I use taiwanas in 20-60m with braid and striking does definately make a difference.

I strike but then a guy at the jetty said i am doing it ALL wrong.  

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You couln't wipe that grin fom my face even with a hammer.

Dont strike on circles or they wont bite in properly (at least for 'proper ones'). You can run then fast over your hand and they wont bite in. If you run them slowly, the hook point will start to dig in. Good demonstration as to why you shouldnt strike. For a J hook, if you pull hard it will catch straight away.

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Always interested in someone to go fishing with

If you use taiwana's or any cirlce on a dropper loop make sure the loop is threaded through the eye from the hook point side. If that makes sense. Otherwise the hook rolls out of the corner of the mouth instead or rolling in. First thing we check on the charter boats when ppl arnt catching fish!!!

Circles are meant to me swallowed and then when the fish swims away or slowly lifting the rod tip the circle rolls into the corner of the mouth. By striking this just rips the hook straight out and doesnt have time to roll into the corner.
Deckhand and member of the Gotone Woodvale team

I thoght the gamaz were a cross between an occy and a circle hook dosen't matter i love em cant beat em for dead baits, little tip cover the points with a texta and they wont rust and go blunt on ya when you throw em back in the tackle box.

What are the best hooks that you guys would recommend for bottom bouncing in exy... ?

Youvella Octopus & Mustad Big Reds, both strong suicide hooks, 7/0 ideal for all species.

I have a few packs of circle hooks in my tackle bag but havent used em yet.

I have read that you shouldnt strike when using circles. What if the fish picks up your bait and swims towards the beach. This happens a bit and i normally wind like hell then strike. What should i do if using circle hooks? Or would the weight of the sinker cause the hook to catch in the fishes mouth?

Im keen to use them as i hate cutting off hooks when a shark or ray has scoffed it half way down its throat

cheers

Totally recommend cirlces off the beach on a set rod. Have done it the last few trips and caught enough tailor without being bitten off. Always in the cnr of the mouth too, same with wobbies and also a few small sharks to 4ft right in the corner of the mouth.

cheers Jim, will deffinately give it a shot!

any need to strike at all or just reel in and fight as normal?

Nah no jarring strike, I use them on the set rod but if i notice bites i pick the rod up and lower the tip but still maintain the feel of the bait , maybe give a bit of slack and wait for the weight to come on then slowly lift rod to fighting position and start cranking or adjusting the drag.

never tried circle hooks in the swan river on mulloway,but would they work?have used them bottom bashing before and they work pretty well..................

Circles are all I use bottom fishing these days and work a treat. I use the Gamakatsus (offset eye) and snell them without any problems.

Also I use them for floating baits as the release factor with these hooks is miles ahead of regular J-style hooks

Cheers