Tog Hook and Size

[hartattack]

Mustad 10829NP were previously 10829BLN. Here's a GREAT write-up I lifted from another site (thanks Lep):

My Go-To Blackfish Hook - The Mustad "Big Gun" #10829BLN

I've been testing this hook big time and so far in this young tog season I have yet to find an instance that it didn't do as well or better than the other entries in the togger's arsenal. You all know the hooks we think of when we go toggin' - the Virginia 4011e in a #3 0r #4 (fiddler-sized), the Gami Octopus in the 3/0 and 4/0 size and the Owner 4/0 SSW.

All of those have a shortcoming of one type or another. The Virginas are dull as can be out of the box - they need a touch-up with the hone before even thinking about using them. Cheap enough though to be thought of as "Dispos-a-hooks."

The Gami's are great hookers, but somewhat delicate - use a plier on them the wrong way, give that shank or hook bend the slightest of nicks and the odds go up that you can kiss the next really big fish goodbye. Pricey too.

The Owners are great hooks, no doubt about it - the 4/0 is about the size of a 3/0 Gami or #3 Virgina, and I have found the metallurgy to be superior to the Gami's. But that price - oy vey. While I've not used this hook all that often, on a late October CQ trip Dave/New Hampshire showed me the way home - outcatching me 10 to 2, me using my hand-honed #3 Virginias and he using the 4/0 Owners. Of course Dave is a damn sharp fisherman, but 10 to 2? Jeesh, talk about bad days. That was enough to get me thinking (rethinking, actually) about the whole tog hook scene and remembering that the hooks I like so much for bass in a 5/0 always looked real good in a smaller size for tog. So next CQ trip I used those hooks - WHAT A DIFFERENCE over the old-style Virginias. Beat on those fish big time, not a single failure (Including busting the hooks out of snags with my 50lb Spectron) and honestly, if I had 25 fish that day myself, I had one. Further testing showed excellent results on my home grounds here off Jones Inlet as well.

I do believe I'm onto the "Something better" here. Its the Mustad Big Gun Live Bait Hook - #10829BLN in a 2/0 size. These hooks run big for their size (Just as the Owners run small). A 2/0 Big Gun fits right in there with the #3 Virginia, the 3/0-4/0 Gami and the 4/0 Owner. These Mustads are out of the "Ultra Point" family of hyper-sharp hooks - I find them as sharp as the Owners - which is mighty sharp indeed.

The big advantages to these hooks are that 1/ they are made from MUCH heavier gauge wire than either of the Japanese hooks and 2/ that they cost around $10 for a 25 pack. As far as the metallurgy, there's just no way these hooks are gonna bend out on ANY size blackfish - one look at them and you'll see why. They were designed for WC light tuna fishing, and look it. Same length shank as those designer Far East hooks, but much thicker metal. Not as thick as the Gami 4X hooks of course - but those made the crab sit a bit "Funny" on the hook and so I've shyed away from them. Not to mention the 75-cents each those heavy-duty Gamis cost. For less than a quarter each these Mustad Big Games are a STEAL. And boy can they do some damage on light tapping tog. You know - those fish that you usually roll because they're just lippin' the bait. These hooks are every bit as good as a 3/0 Gami at hooking those light-hitting fish in the lip meat (if necessary), and yet have enough heft to them that a big hog tog will NEVER open one of these up.

I'm wasn't gonna say where I buy mine, out of purely selfish reasons, but heck its my first day back. So if you go over to T*****al Tackle you will find these little beauties sittin' on his east wall. For $10/25 pieces, try them. Believe me, you will really like 'em.

[MVP]

Larry

Great post. Lep is truly knows his stuff and does a lot of field testing any type of tackle before he puts his name to a recommendation.

[MrAC1980]

Can't wait to try these big guns out! Will report back! In the mean time keep the opinions coming!

[makokeith]

2/0 octopus for me. I use 2 hooks per crab with them pointing out opposite sides. I used to use 4/0 but ever since I changed I get way more hook ups.