If there is one item that every (saltwater) angler should have on them at all times, it’s a weighted treble hook. Whether you’re fishing the back bays or out in the canyons, the snag hooks can come in handy, and lead to a memorable catch.
Snagged baits can be kept for later use, brought to another location or used live right where you snag them. If you’re going to live-line the baits, the best practice is to transfer the bait onto a more catch-and-release-friendly hook, like a circle or J-hook, but in some instances, particularly when surfcasting, “snagging and dropping” is the only way to keep your bait in the strike zone.
But, as useful as snag hooks are, I’ll be the first to admit, I rarely bring one with me, unless I’m heading out with the intention of snagging baitfish. And on more than a few occasions, I’ve been caught flat-footed by forgetting to pack a weighted treble.
On a trip back from the canyons with OTW Design Manager, Andy Nabreski and occasional OTW contributor, Larry Backman. The overnighter had been slow, a couple longfin tuna the only payoff for the long run and missed sleep. Just within view of the Vineyard, the calm seas sprouted fins, and white marlin appeared in incredible numbers. Unfortunately, they wanted nothing to do with our trolled lures or frozen ballyhoo (having some live squid or live legal-sized scup also would have been a game changer). On several occasions, we spotted the marlin balling baitfish, and the baitfish schools actually sought refuge by hanging next to the boat. We sat there dumbfounded, trying to snag the baitfish with metal jigs to no avail. The white marlin continued to feed and we continued to try to entice them, but all was for naught.
In the surf, bunker and mackerel also provide snagging opportunities. I can’t count how many times I’ve watched a parade of big baitfish and giant bass move past while my snag hooks are at home and my lures are getting ignored.
So the moral of the story is, get to your local tackle shop, buy a few weighted trebles (5/0, 7/0, and even 10/0 sizes depending on the bait size), keep them nearby on the water, and when the opportunity presents itself, start snaggin’.
Just be cautioned, simply possessing one of these hooks on some freshwaters, like the Great Lakes tributaries, could get you into trouble, so make sure you’re clear on the local regulations before swinging one of these grappling hooks.
[…] greeted instead by a massive school of bunker. Ed was quick to react as he grabbed a snag hook (as everyone should have at the ready) and proceeded to toss it into the school. Although he only managed to snatch a few baits, it was […]