Catfish Basics #178, Octopus vs. Circle Hooks
Story and photo by Keith “Catfish” Sutton
One of our readers, Dan Huckabee, reached out to us recently with a great question. It’s the type of inquiry that’s perfect to discuss in our monthly Catfish Basics column.
QUESTION:
I started fishing for cats using a Gamakatsu 5/0 circle hook. I live in Orlando, Florida and am a bank fisherman, so the majority of the cats I catch are either channels or bullheads. My buddy said I should start using 5/0 Octopus hooks but the hooks have a 1/16-inch bend at the tip, versus a straight tip like I was using in the beginning.
Question is, will this hook give the same results as the regular circle hook with a regular tip? I string up my hooks myself using a snell wrap, and when I verify correctly run by dragging the hook over the back side of my left hand, I don’t see the telltale turn and start to pierce my skin on the 1/16-inch, 90-degree tip.
I am an old school fisherman—grew up and still fish with my original Ambassadeur 5000 I got 55 years ago. So, I want to know, am I being too bull-headed about this new design? I mean does it work same as circle hook or not?
Bullheaded old fisherman,
Dan Huckabee
P.S. thanks for the awesome webpage info and teaching.
ANSWER:
Hi Dan,
Thanks for writing in, Dan. Sounds like you’ve got a strong catfishing spirit, and we love that you’re still fishing with your old Ambassadeur 5000—those reels are true classics.
You brought up a great question about hooks, and the short answer is: not all “circle-style” hooks behave exactly the same. That 1/16-inch bend you’re seeing on the octopus-style hook can change the way the hook sets, especially if you’re relying on the traditional “let the fish hook itself” method that true circle hooks are known for.
Octopus hooks tend to be more of a hybrid between J-hooks and circle hooks, and that bent-in tip (often called an “offset” or “kirbed” point) can sometimes make them more prone to snagging rather than rolling into the corner of the fish’s mouth, especially if the hook isn’t snelled just right.
It’s not about being bullheaded—it’s about knowing what works for you. You’re fishing from the bank, after channel cats and bullheads, and using a snell knot, which is perfect. In your case, a true circle hook with a straighter point might actually give you more consistent results.
That’s why I’d encourage you to try the Boss Kat Super Boss Circle Hook. They’re a sponsor of ours and built specifically with catfishermen like you in mind. They’re razor sharp, built strong and designed to do exactly what a circle hook should: hook the fish in the corner of the mouth without needing a big hookset. Just let the fish load the rod and hold on.
You’ve got the experience and instincts already—it might be just a matter of matching the right tool to your technique. And with a good hook, you can focus on what matters most: enjoying the tug on the line and the peace that comes with a day by the water.
Tight lines,
Keith “Catfish” Sutton, Editor
CatfishNOW
MORE INFORMATION:
I also reached out to terminal tackle expert Ron Stallings, who’s in charge of sales, PR and marketing for the TTI Blakemore Group, parent company of Boss Kat, Tru-Turn and Daiichi Hooks. I asked if he thought my answer to Mr. Huckabee was appropriate, and he replied with additional information that should prove useful.
“Your answer is spot on,” he said. “The real reason for anglers choosing between these hooks is personal preference. Octopus circles actually (in my opinion) are for the novice who really wants to ‘set’ the hook as opposed to waiting for the ‘tug’ of a circle hook. The gap and the design of the octopus circle differentiates itself from traditional circles with its wider gap and point position. They look the same, but the set seems to be different. I’m not a fan of octopus hooks myself. Only octopus ‘J’ hooks for grouper and snapper.
“One of the top reasons anglers really like the octopus is the snelling part,” Stallings concluded. “However, most of my pro staff anglers still snell the other hooks just fine. Even well-respected catfish anglers like Jeff Williams and Phil King snell the BK84-style hooks, and they are topnotch cat anglers.”
