Hook Size?

Last post generated some v. interesting debate. Felt that I learnt loads.
Have stuck with the carp tackle, got some decent lures and floats and
although not immediately successful I am hopeful. Have found a spot under
some cliffs with a good forty to fifty feet of water under the rod tip.
I want to fish mackerel strip but feel that my size 6 o'shaugnessy hooks are
a bit on the wee side. Also, I now know that dogfish are considered a
nuisance in many places, but I am interested in catching a few for the
plate.Do they fall to float fished or bottom baits? What depths of water /
types of terrain are they found in?Any advice/guidance?

Cheers,
Angus,
Applecross

"Angus Robins" wrote in message
t...
Last post generated some v. interesting debate. Felt that I learnt loads.
Have stuck with the carp tackle, got some decent lures and floats and
although not immediately successful I am hopeful. Have found a spot under
some cliffs with a good forty to fifty feet of water under the rod tip.
I want to fish mackerel strip but feel that my size 6 o'shaugnessy hooks
are a bit on the wee side. Also, I now know that dogfish are considered a
nuisance in many places, but I am interested in catching a few for the
plate.Do they fall to float fished or bottom baits? What depths of water /
types of terrain are they found in?Any advice/guidance?

Cheers,
Angus,
Applecross


Hi Angus,

I tend to match hook size to bait size. If you're fishing small baits use
small hooks, for large baits use larger hooks. So for a small bit of
mackerell strip you could use size 6's. For whole squid or whole crab use a
6/0. Size 1's or 1/0s are pretty good for general purpose fishing.
Whatever the hook size always try to leave the point of the hook clear of
the bait - don't entomb the point in the bait.

If you find you are getting plagued with small fish all the time, you can
try going up a few hook sizes to filter out the fish with smaller mouths.
Having said that I have still managed to catch tiny 5 Bearded Rockling on
6/0s with whole squid ;-)

Dogfish are bottom feeders so you will be unlikely to get one on the float.
Fish the bottom with a good chunk of fish bait ( Mackerel or Squid ) on the
hook - after dark is best.

ETV

In message 43406817.0@entanet, Eric The Viking
writes

"Angus Robins" wrote in message
et...

Also, I now know that dogfish are considered a
nuisance in many places, but I am interested in catching a few for the
plate.Do they fall to float fished or bottom baits? What depths of water /
types of terrain are they found in?Any advice/guidance?

Dogfish are bottom feeders so you will be unlikely to get one on the float.

I wouldn't be so sure of that; I've caught them off the rocks in
daylight float fishing a prawn three feet deep in about 12 feet of
water. It's not a good way of catching them, but if the water is clear
and they're about, they will take. Very disappointing when you think
you're about to strike into a bass. Little monsters.


--
Steve Walker

"Steve Walker" wrote in message
...
In message 43406817.0@entanet, Eric The Viking
writes

"Angus Robins" wrote in message
news:yeqdnZk3kazT1N3enZ2dnUVZ8qqdnZ2d@fireflyuk. net...

Also, I now know that dogfish are considered a
nuisance in many places, but I am interested in catching a few for the
plate.Do they fall to float fished or bottom baits? What depths of water
/
types of terrain are they found in?Any advice/guidance?

Dogfish are bottom feeders so you will be unlikely to get one on the
float.

I wouldn't be so sure of that; I've caught them off the rocks in daylight
float fishing a prawn three feet deep in about 12 feet of water. It's not
a good way of catching them, but if the water is clear and they're about,
they will take. Very disappointing when you think you're about to strike
into a bass. Little monsters.


--
Steve Walker

Hi Steve,

I know what you mean, have caught flounders on the float before now ;-)

Personally I find the best way to catch dogfish is to fish for something
else. £1.50 worth of finest black lug on your hook tipped off with squid
aimed at a cod is a sure fire way to catch one, as is using a small piece of
ragworm on a size 6 aimed at sole.

On the subject of dogfish a good bit of advice is that when you do catch
one, never squeeze its stomach. Just like real dogs they have a tendancy to
explosively puke on your trousers - takes a world of Oxi-clean to get rid of
the hum ;-)

ETV

In a recent fishing trip off Hopes Nose in Torquay I caught 14 dogfish
using a variety of baits.

The advice I was given by a neighbor (keen fisherman) is this;

1. Be careful how you hand them. The sort I caught are known as 'rough
dogs' because their skin is like sand paper. They try to wrap themselves
around you when you try to get the hook out (you'll need a good pair of
pliers), and they can take your skin off without any effort (apparently
the their skin was used years ago for sanding down boats!). I found the
easiest way was to hold the tip of the tail against the side of the head.

2. They are buggers to skin and the easiest way is to gut them, cut off
the fins, head and tail and drop it in to boiling water for a maximum of
30 seconds. Then scrape the skin with a sharp knife, finally rinsing
under cold water.

3. Cut the skinned fish into stakes and then freeze for at least 1 week
to kill the ammonia in the fish and stop them tasting ****y.

4. The best way to eat them is to batter them and deep fry them and
serve with a plate of chips.

Cheers,



Angus Robins wrote:
Last post generated some v. interesting debate. Felt that I learnt loads.
Have stuck with the carp tackle, got some decent lures and floats and
although not immediately successful I am hopeful. Have found a spot under
some cliffs with a good forty to fifty feet of water under the rod tip.
I want to fish mackerel strip but feel that my size 6 o'shaugnessy hooks are
a bit on the wee side. Also, I now know that dogfish are considered a
nuisance in many places, but I am interested in catching a few for the
plate.Do they fall to float fished or bottom baits? What depths of water /
types of terrain are they found in?Any advice/guidance?

Cheers,
Angus,
Applecross