Solo fished lower Ashley twice last week before hiding from Memorial Weekend boat wakes. Used 3 " finger mullet from castnet for first time this spring. South wind ruined one outing (got skunked). Other trip yielded no trout but 6 reds (4 over 30 inches and a fun doubleheader with an experimental cell phone timer selfie). I have been using 4/0 circle hooks for years, but they have been Eagle Claw stainless steel and offset. New rules require non-stainless and in-line circle hooks. Does anyone know a good manufacturer and source for these hooks? My initial internet search was a loser.
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I like Owner Reef and Rig Hooks for those spot tail bass. They are a little spendy, but you get what you pay for. In my opinion it’s the best overall hook company out there.
They are high carbon, have the sharpest triple point barb out there, excellent tensile strength specifically designed to bite cartilage,
Here is a good link that might help with different styles of hooks for different species.
Hope this helps
Owner Perfection In Hooks Owner Perfection In Hooks
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EF is on point (ha!). Owner hoods are expensive but low failure rate.
One side note, with the in line, high quality hooks you can downsize and get more hook ups without worrying about hook failure. Have caught some big bottom creatures on 1/0. The smaller size can potentially offset (there I go again) the lost hooking efficiency when switching from offset to in line circle hooks.
When do new rules go into effect? DNR still has same slot and creel
It’s been a rule for around 5 years now, but as I understand it, the rules are for the snapper and grouper complex only at this time.
New rules go into effect on 1 July. 1 red drum per person , 2 total per boat, slot is 18-25 , non-stainless, in-line circle hooks
Yep, 4/0 hooks and larger is the way I am reading it. Anything smaller and the offsets are OK.
Is that right?
South Carolina to enforce new red drum fishing laws in July New catch limits on South Carolina red drum fishing begin July 1
You got it
Soft opening to start getting anglers around to ways of deep hooking fewer adults
Lupton rig looks funny but it works just as well as a longer Carolina rig and greatly reduces deep hooks too
Less than 6” or it doesn’t work as intended
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Does not matter.
These new generation game wardens couldn’t catch a cold.
When was the last time you seen a news report about someone getting caught breaking the law pertaining to fishing or hunting?
They say you can’t legislate dishonesty, and it’s arguably the biggest hurdle in wildlife conservation these days IMO
Just trying to pay it forward and get folks to consider what they’re fishing for and how is all
Rubber nets are great too when you know you’re gonna let it go, but carry a gaff or a Taurus Judge if you’re just looking for legal meat- I support it all
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Remember that guy DrumReaper and the Judge thread?
Good times
DrumReaper
Now that was a name
Wish I’d thought up something that cool
Thinking about changing mine to ThreadReaper
That’s what they call me here at the house.lol
We can change it any time you want, sometimes I think I might go back to Edisto Fisher, or maybe cutbait…
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