One of the best fish you can catch is catfish. They come in decent sizes and put up a good fight as you try to land them.
Catfish anglers quickly found that most of the gear wasn’t required, and it was the hooks that play such a crucial part in catching these fish.
Fishing for catfish leads you to many types of hooks, and knowing which are the best can be a challenge.
Our quick reviews have taken the very best hooks, very different from those in use from years ago. (Find the Best Fish Finders for the Money)
By the end, you’ll learn all you need about getting hooks the next time you need a new set.
Contents
Why You Need Good Fishing Hooks for Catfish
Fishing hook design has changed over the past few years with all the talk of conservation. Many catch and release anglers rather than those using catfish treble hooks to be sure they get their fish.
The right hooks matter is depending on what sort of catfish you’re after and your location. Here’s a quick rundown of hook types for the most common four hooks for catfish.
A circle hook for catfish is fish-friendly and stops the death of a fish if it ends up in the gut. Everything is in line, and the design helps you slight the hook out yet helping increase hook percentage.
Kahle hooks are large and big enough to use live bait. The moving bait can be enough to get a bite.
Octopus Catfish Hooks are suitable for live baits and work for both flat channel and flathead catfish. Quickly add small live bait and use it under your float or bobber or to use for drifting.
Limerick Hooks are smaller and have a unique bend. You will use these with cut-bait to target flatheads or channels. (Find the Best Portable Fish Finder)
Top Fishing Hooks for Catfish Reviews
1. Circle Hooks Saltwater Fishing Hooks, 150PCS Fishing Circle Hooks 2X Strong Offset Octopus Catfish Fishing Hooks Assortment High Carbon Steel Bait Fishing Hooks Kit
This is a 150 box and has 25 for each size circle hook 1/0, 2/0, 3/0, 4/0, and 5/0; you will find these suitable to catch catfish. Construction is the best high carbon steel making them very strong and resistant to corrosion.
Octopus circle hooks are popular because of their offset point; they can also hook fish without killing it. There are a closed eye and other features to hang onto the fish, making it highly efficient.
Pros
- Made from high carbon steel
- Great for freshwater or saltwater use
- Very strong
- Rarely swallowed by fish
Cons
- Too large for some anglers
- Some eyes may not be finished correctly
With a guide price of a little under $15, this is an excellent pack of hooks and can cover all types of fish and not just catfish. With the sharpness and quality of finish, these are some of the best hooks for catfish.
2. UCEC 150pcs/box Circle Hooks 2X Strong Customized Offset Sport Circle Hooks Black High Carbon Steel Octopus Fishing Hooks
The UCEC offers a great box of carbon steel circle hook that is 2X in strength. They are corrosion resistant, so suitable for freshwater and saltwater fishing. In each rigid plastic box, you get a selection of 8 sizes.
Each is precision bent into a perfect round, smooth circle, so you can hook and hold a fish in the best possible way. You will find the section of high-quality hooks suitable for Bass, Walleye, Trout, Salmon, Channel Catfish, Blue Catfish, And Flathead Catfish, among others.
The unique offset point is designed to rotate inside the fish’s mouth and settle at the corner of the jaw.
Pros
- Corrosion-resistant
- Suitable hook size for catfish
- Great style and function
- Turned up eye
Cons
- Can rust after use in saltwater
- Hooks are very light
With a guide price of just under $17, you get many hooks that are well made and suitable for many kinds of fish. They are designed to keep the hook in the mouth and are easy to remove when returning fish to the water.
Some reports find them too light for catfishing, where they often miss the mouth. However, they are a great hook when used with the right bait to offset these niggles.
3. Croch 150 Pack Octopus Circle Hooks Offset Point 6
Here is a 150 pack from Croch that includes the same hooks as the previous catfishing goods, but you also get 5 x batches of 25 and an extra #1 sized hook.
They are solid and powerful hooks that won’t break during your battle with that catfish due to their high carbon steel.
This model’s swept-back eye has the offset point that many of these items feature, raising the likelihood of the hook being stuck on the lip of the fish and not elsewhere. They come in their package, and it’s a brilliant product overall.
Pros
- Increases fish survival rates
- It comes in 6 handy sizes
- Comes in reusable plastic-transparent box
- Durable and strong
Cons
- Reports of bending out of shape
- Can rust in saltwater
With a guide price of just over $10, the Croch octopus hooks are of decent value, yet some may not offer others’ durability.
You get the same assortment of hooks and sizes, so if you need something that is the ideal shape, sharp, and uniform for freshwater use, these can be a good option.
Fishing Hooks for Catfish Buying guide
Here are a few things you need to look for when searching for popular hooks when you are off catching catfish.
Sharpness
A fish hook needs to be sharp; if not, it can’t pierce the fish’s mouth. As a result, you can miss hooking your fish, and it can cause duress to the fish. Hooks that don’t stay sharp and you’re not going to have the same success rate.
Size
Size matters when catching catfish. Using hooks that are too large and won’t penetrate the fish’s mouth as fast, and you can’t present your bait either.
You do need the smallest hook possible for the fish size you wish to catch. Each of these kits offers varying sizes, so make sure they have the size you need.
Durability
Hooks won’t last a lifetime since they are small bits of metal that face lots of stress. However, this doesn’t mean you should suffer cheap metal hooks. Besides, if you use a rod holder and your hook snags a rock, poorly made hooks can easily break. (Find the Best Fishing Hooks For Catfish)
Type
You will find many fishing hook types, even though circle hooks are the most common for catching catfish. Using these hooks, they are designed to hook into the fish’s mouth, so the catfish stays on the end of the line, no matter how much it fights. Most common for catching and releasing cats as they cause little harm.
Kahle hooks are also popular for catfish and offer a wider gap so that you can use larger baits for bigger fish. These Kahle can be useful as catch and release hooks yet work for any catfishing.
O’Shaughnessy, J hooks, and flathead catfish hooks are used yet not as popular for catfish as a fish can throw the hook. One hook type they can’t throw is treble hooks, which are sink bait holders. You won’t find treble hooks suitable for catch and release fishing as they are frequently swallowed and cause damage.
Final Verdict
When reviewing these three hooks, they were all very similar in appearance and performance, yet the finer details set them apart. It was clear the Circle Hooks Saltwater Fishing Hooks, 150PCS Fishing Circle Hooks 2X Strong Offset Octopus Catfish Fishing Hooks Assortment High Carbon Steel Bait Fishing Hooks Kit from JSHANMEI were the best.
The high-quality catfish hooks made from the best steel offer corrosion-resistant fishing, and you can get many uses from them before you even consider replacing them.
If you are fishing for cats, these hooks will harm the fishless as they set themselves to the corner of the fish’s mouth without you needing to set your rod like you usually would with different hooks. (Find the Best Underwater Camera For Ice Fishing)
Out of many, these are the best catfish hooks you can find.
