Sea Fishing and Sea Angling Online: Gamakatsu Worm 39 Hooks Gamakatsu Worm 39 Hooks ================================================================================ Mike Thrussell on 01 January, 2006 12:25:00 DESIGN FEATURES These hooks are of a design originally favoured for use with plastic worm lures, but also prove to be a cracking hook for fishing very small crab baits for flounders, eels and plaice. The Worm 39 has an ultra sharp needle point with a micro barb. The shank is forged for strength right through to the point, and the eye is a turned-up type leaning backwards off the shank. The finish on the hook is black nickel. Some of you might be thrown by the shape of this hook. The shank is short with the throat of the hook bending upwards at an outwards angle away from the point then coming back inwards to create a wide deep gape below the point. It's the short shank and the wide gape that makes this hook perfect for crab baits. The hooks are available in sizes 4, 3 and 2 and come in packets of 12 VENUE, RIGS AND BAITS USED Shallow surf beach, late afternoon/early evening with a gentle surf and flooding tide. One up one down two hook rig fished in close. Two hook rig clipped up at long range. REVIEW CONCLUSION As expected, the catch was only small flounders, dabs and rockling, typical for an early March session, but at long range the sharpness of these hooks was a big advantage with every bite producing a hooked fish on a day when bites were half hearted at best and the fish generally reluctant to feed. The hook is also ideal for small shellfish baits such as cockles and tellin clams, or for fishing the abdomens of hermit crabs. With the forging on the shank, should you pick up a bonus sizeable cod or bass, then the hook is well able to handle the extra pressure applied by a big fish without the worry of the hook potentially opening out. I see competition anglers being especially impressed with this hook for those matches when bites are at a premium. Freelance anglers will also find a place in their tackle box for this pattern for general beach fishing and inside estuaries, especially during the summer months in clear water conditions for eels, plaice and flounders. AVAILABLE FROM....... Mick Ball Town Moor Baits of Doncaster 26 Marlborough Road Town Moor Doncaster South Yorkshire DN2 5DF Tel: 01302 738774