CIRCLE HOOK RIGGING FOR MARLIN AND BILLFISH

One Method Of Circle Hook Rigging
#8/0 Eagle Claw L2004EL Circle Hook
8 Piece of Monel
80lb - 100lb. Mono Leader
Ballyhoo

Today more than ever Sport fishing crews around the world are utilizing circle hooks in an effort to decrease potential risk to fish while practicing catch and release. Arguably the circle hook may not only be less harmful to released fish but the hook up percentage when utilized properly may be higher.

Step 1
To begin (assuming you already have a leader ready), Twist the monel onto the circle hook as shown in the picture below.

Very important: twist the wire leaving just enough room so that the loop around the hook slides freely but unable to slip off the hook completely.


Step 2
Place the circle hook as per picture up against the broken off ballyhoo bill. Place the twisted monel under the bill. Take the end of the monel, poking downward; pierce the center flap or mouth from the top. The monel is now facing down when pulled through. Next, run the monel behind the gill plate over the head and behind the other gill plate. Now take the monel and pierce under the chin upward through the center flap or mouth and finish with tight wraps around the bill.



Step 3
The finished circle hook rig. This method will allow the bait to skip and swim.

Guatemalan Circle Hook Rigs

How To Rig with Circle Hooks Video
Materials:
1. 8/0 Eagle Claw Circle Hook
2. 130lb. Barrel Swivel
3. 20lb Monel – 15in.
4. 1/2oz Egg Sinker
5. Ice Pick

Instructions:
1. Remove the eyes from the ballyhoo.
2. Trim the bill.
3. Take your 15in of monel and do a series of haywire twist around the barrel swivel.
4. Using the ice pick, put a hole on the top of the ballyhoo just in front of the eyes.
5. Thread your monel, with the barrel swivel on top, through the top of the head bringing the monel out between the 2 gill plates.
6. Pop the swivel into the head of the ballyhoo.
7. Install the 1/2oz egg sinker into the monel and dead center the sinker underneath the ballyhoo’s throat.
8. Take the monel and come around the gill plates. Pass the tag end of the monel through the eves 3 times. Secure and pull tight after each pass.
9. Take the tag end monel and insert it from the lower jaw through the top lip creating what would normally be your post.
10. Rap the mouth shut and clip of bill off.
11. Insert the circle hook into the eye of the swivel.