Pakula SSteel Hooks light gauge

[pecaros]

I just purchased some Pakula hooks however wasn't paying attention and instead of getting the extra strong as I intended I got the lighter gauge. I will target g Marlin around 400lb and wonder how much hooks will stand up to. Read some where before the lighter hooks straighten out but not sure under what condition. The size I have are 25, 35 and 40.

[Peter Pakula]

Not being a smart arse, but if you are asking that question it would be better if you swaped them over for heavy ones.

[Hennessy]

Wait time out!!!!!!!!


The hook gauge is designed for line test strength on your main line not on the size of the fish you are targeting......

Pakulas light hooks are amazing for penetration on light line up to 30lb, but if you are using 130lb mainline then you need heavier gauge wire size for your hooks.

Also you need to fish with a crew that knows how to drive a boat backwards instead of the common error of driving forward to keep the line tight, and a deck hand that knows when to drop wraps and an angler that knows when to apply drag and when not too....only about 5% of angers/crew understand drag pressure and manipulation of the fishes mind. Once you have figured this out you will know which hooks are right for you.

good luck, and buy all the hooks !!!and remember to shave down half the barb even on pakulas hooks because penetration is more important than staying dynamics.

[Peter Pakula]

Mike, thanks, lots of guys are using the lights on 37 getting fish up to 330 KG (biggest I know of, I think) by Adam Scott in NZ on a size 35 light, but as you say tactics are needed and a great deal of understanding about the whole system. I've been using lights on 37kg (80lb) fishing 12 to 18kg drag for many years.

Most of southern Queensland uses lights. Just about all of Vanuatu and a few pockets in other places where guys have been shown (and blitzed) by the system.

Unfortunately it's not something that can be tought in videos or articles unless the whole crew goes through the BTL, starting at Chapter one page one and works all the way through it:

BTL Free On-Line

Using Light gauge hooks was going to be in Part 2 but as sponsorship / partnership money is pretty much non-existent, it's unlikely Part 2 will ever be done.

I made the very big mistake of rigging all Dojo Lures with lights thinking that things had advanced in the time i was out of the business. I was very wrong, within a short time all lures from USA went back to the factory for re-rigging with heavies.

At the same time all the lures made for Australia and Mexico are still rigged with light gauge hooks. The rest of the world gets Heavies.

[pecaros]

Thanks for the reply guys,

I should have gone with the heavier hooks because Im not ready for the light hooks just yet and the heavier ones are still lighter than some of the others on the market and I do like the shape and point of the Pakula hook.

I fish with 100/130lb test and feel that I have a good handle on drag setting but some other factors with the crew I fish leads me to think the safer choice is the heavier hook.

I have been using Mustads 7691's and these are harder to sharpen and penetration is a lot harder so after looking at a few hooks with pros and cons I think the Pakula hook is right for me.

[Peter Pakula]

Excellent, let me know if you have any problems getting them swaped over.

[snuggles]

Have to agree take off half the barb on heavy hooks.

I have seen SS hooks heavy, large, small just break in two. ie with SS 10/0 & 12/0 J style hooks.

Several times I have seen failures with smaller striped marlin. In one case on a 300kg+ blue.

Most heavy hooks just fracture on the curve rather than straighten. Lighter gauge hooks do straighten out I guess thats where leaving the barb on the hook would be a good idea.

Not saying PPs hooks are any better or worse. I just think its just a thing with SS hooks.

From what I have seen the majority of SS hooks seem to fail when you have the fish on the leader close to the boat esp if using 400 lb + leaders.

[Hennessy]

If your breaking/straighting hooks try to follow the 45* rule with your leader man. IF the marlins head gets outside of 45* from the side of your boat heading away he must dump wraps. But pull like hell tell 44* to get its head back, bad things happen after 45*.....

maybe this helps maybe you need some Southern Tuna hooks from Quickrig although I have never straightened a PP hook they are amazing as well.. so quality is king....cheaper brands are well cheaper brands and you get what you pay for. I am too poor to buy cheap shite!!!!

[Peter Pakula]

The record on Dojo Lights has increased somewhat:

Hi Peter,

Was reading you the below on Marlin nut

lots of guys are using the lights on 37 getting fish up to 330 KG (biggest I know of, I think) by Adam Scott in NZ on a size 35 light, but as you say tactics are needed and a great deal of understanding about the whole system.


and tough I would just send you some pics of two Blacks one estimated at 850 and the other at 800 lbs caught on your SS light gauge hooks on 80 pound tackle off Bazaruto island - Mozambique last year. By mistake I was sent the light stuff, gave them a try and had a few hooks bent but did get the 2 fish above plus another 3 over 600 on them. Also fought a estimated 1000+ fish for 4h30 hours which chaffed through the 650 leader.

As you can see on the lure picture the hook did bend but we still got the fish. As you will notice the top hook is a mustad 7732 but both fish were hooked on the trailing SS pakula hook.

I have now got myself the heavier gauge, but still use the light stuff on 30 pound gear as their penetration is really great.

regards,

Duarte A. Moreira Rato