33 replies to this topic

[mehill10]

what hooks should I use for pompano jigs? I can find any short shank hooks
thanks for the help

[hawnjigs]

What style jig head, weight, and hook size?

[mehill10]

hawnjigs, on 23 March 2010 - 11:43 PM, said:

What style jig head, weight, and hook size?

I was going to use the do-it chub or the egg head mold 1/0 or 2/0 hooks are what I'm looking for I'm thinking I willl have to made the mold fix the hooks

[hawnjigs]

I don't have those molds, but according to specs the Egg Head takes light wire hooks so you'd probably have to enlarge the hook eye slot & possibly the shank channel to accomodate salt water hooks. However, looking at the catalog pic, the close to body hook eye placement may not be adaptable to a shorter leg heavier wire hook.

If the Do-it catalog pic is accurate the Chub appears to have an odd collar shape tho the salt water 90* O'Sh hooks version shouldn't require mold modification.

As for hooks, 60* salt water EC 413 & Mustad 34184 have shorter shanks than 90* EC 635 / Mustad 91751-91715 but are not likely to interchange for mold fit. However, shorter leg 60*s can usually be shank bent to 90* or so which allows 90* interchangeability and also effectively shortens the shanks even more. I can post a pic if requested.

You probably know that Mustad makes an even shorter shank 60* 34185 which may incur additional hook fit challenges.

[flatsrat76]

I fish for pompano and use doc's goofy jigs http://docsgoofyjigs...TheOrignal.aspx do it has a mold like this ..... http://www.do-itmold...olds.aspx?c=225

Flatsrat76

[mehill10]

hawnjigs, on 24 March 2010 - 03:01 PM, said:

I don't have those molds, but according to specs the Egg Head takes light wire hooks so you'd probably have to enlarge the hook eye slot & possibly the shank channel to accomodate salt water hooks. However, looking at the catalog pic, the close to body hook eye placement may not be adaptable to a shorter leg heavier wire hook.

If the Do-it catalog pic is accurate the Chub appears to have an odd collar shape tho the salt water 90* O'Sh hooks version shouldn't require mold modification.

As for hooks, 60* salt water EC 413 & Mustad 34184 have shorter shanks than 90* EC 635 / Mustad 91751-91715 but are not likely to interchange for mold fit. However, shorter leg 60*s can usually be shank bent to 90* or so which allows 90* interchangeability and also effectively shortens the shanks even more. I can post a pic if requested.

You probably know that Mustad makes an even shorter shank 60* 34185 which may incur additional hook fit challenges.

thats the hook i was looking for the 34185 but no one has it any more

[flatsrat76]

mehill10, on 24 March 2010 - 07:45 PM, said:

thats the hook i was looking for the 34185 but no one has it any more

http://www.captainho...iew=1&offset=21

Flatsrat76

[warflures]

flatsrat76, on 24 March 2010 - 08:12 PM, said:

http://www.captainho...iew=1&offset=21

Flatsrat76

I make alot of pompano jigs and the best hook i found is the mustad ultra point 32786 60* hook in the 1/0 size. The 1/0 in this style is actually about the size of a 2/0 in other sizes. Its a great hook with a great finish and great durability and thick durable wire. What i do is bend the 60* and make it a 90* for a shorter shank. It fits well into the do-it egg mold with just a little bit of modifications to where the point end of the hood sits in the mold. As for the lead part, it mold just fine with no modifications. The best place i buy all my supplies is barlows tackle. I specialize in custom pompano and cobia jigs here in the panhandle of florida. Hope this info is helpful.

[hawnjigs]

warflures, on 31 March 2010 - 10:39 AM, said:

I make alot of pompano jigs and the best hook i found is the mustad ultra point 32786 60* hook in the 1/0 size. The 1/0 in this style is actually about the size of a 2/0 in other sizes. Its a great hook with a great finish and great durability and thick durable wire. What i do is bend the 60* and make it a 90* for a shorter shank. It fits well into the do-it egg mold with just a little bit of modifications to where the point end of the hood sits in the mold. As for the lead part, it mold just fine with no modifications. The best place i buy all my supplies is barlows tackle. I specialize in custom pompano and cobia jigs here in the panhandle of florida. Hope this info is helpful.

Great to hear from a specialist who knows his stuff ! I second that the Ultra Points are far superior to "Classic" tinned Mustads and Eagle Claws.

What weight(s) head do you prefer for pompano? How would smaller #2 hooks work? Do you prefer tied jigs or soft plastics on a jig head? I've not had the opportunity to fish pompano yet, tho HI has some relatives in the jack family.

[warflures]

hawnjigs, on 31 March 2010 - 02:38 PM, said:

Great to hear from a specialist who knows his stuff ! I second that the Ultra Points are far superior to "Classic" tinned Mustads and Eagle Claws.

What weight(s) head do you prefer for pompano? How would smaller #2 hooks work? Do you prefer tied jigs or soft plastics on a jig head? I've not had the opportunity to fish pompano yet, tho HI has some relatives in the jack family.

It depends where you are fishing because on a pier or jetty you want to fish a heavier 5/8 to 3/4 ounce jig. When im on the beach site fishing for them i use a smaller head like a 1/4 ounce head. The smaller head doesnt spook the fish when you are sight fishing from short distances. I tie all my jigs with crimped nylon hair. Smaller hooks would work great but they must be strong. Pompano are one tuff fish and they will straiten a hook out if given the opportunity especially on a pier or jetty when you really have to horse them away from obstructions.

[hawnjigs]

Given a pompano opportunity I would prefer lighter tackle beach shoreline or wade without those pier obstructions. Here's a pic I found online of similar HI species "papio" which are good eating like pompano.

[attachment=4699:papio.jpg]

Altho 32786 bottoms out at 1/0 size identical VMC 7161 is available down to size #6 and appears to be the strongest for its size jig hook made by any mfg. Not sure if any stock molds fit the small sizes tho.

[flatsrat76]

Here is a Pompano I caught last year in off a Tampa Bay bridge using a doc's jig with a yellow sliding fly teaser.
Doc uses a Mustad hook that he modifies to fits his molds.

really this fish is only about 12.5 to 13 inches, You have to measure them at the fork

http://docsgoofyjigs.com/aboutus.aspx

[hawnjigs]

Flats, are you hooking pomps on the main jig slab hook or the smaller teaser?

The Do-it Swim Jig you suggested works great for papio with a feather tie on the hook, but only bronze hooks are available & they rust out quickly in the salt. Worked best for me as a surface lure.

[hawnjigs]

The post edit tool left out the caption for the above pic found online which is of a another variety of papio that more closely resembles a pompano.

[flatsrat76]

hawnjigs, on 05 April 2010 - 01:26 PM, said:

Flats, are you hooking pomps on the main jig slab hook or the smaller teaser?

The Do-it Swim Jig you suggested works great for papio with a feather tie on the hook, but only bronze hooks are available & they rust out quickly in the salt. Worked best for me as a surface lure.

Hawn it is a bout 50/50 slab/teaser catch rate, I like the colors yellow and pink for the teasers. Check out this link Doc talks about the hook's he uses http://docsgoofyjigs.com/aboutus.aspx

Here is a link showing a way I like to rig them. The one on the far left http://capmel.com/Ji...BforPompano.htm

sometimes I will even put the teaser above my knot so it slides up and down on the leader.
I would agree if used as a surface or subsurface lure it would drive any kind of fish in the jacks or Mackerel family nuts.
BTW I have no affiliation with this lure maker but I use his jigs

Flatsrat76

[wilfish4774]

flatsrat76, on 05 April 2010 - 09:32 PM, said:

Hawn it is a bout 50/50 slab/teaser catch rate, I like the colors yellow and pink for the teasers. Check out this link Doc talks about the hook's he uses http://docsgoofyjigs.com/aboutus.aspx

Here is a link showing a way I like to rig them. The one on the far left http://capmel.com/Ji...BforPompano.htm

sometimes I will even put the teaser above my knot so it slides up and down on the leader.
I would agree if used as a surface or subsurface lure it would drive any kind of fish in the jacks or Mackerel family nuts.
BTW I have no affiliation with this lure maker but I use his jigs

Flatsrat76

I have used one of the new mustad steal head jig hooks in some pompano jigs and I really like the looks of them except for the fact that they are black. They remind me of the old Herter's jig hooks except with much greater strength.

[hawnjigs]

What style and weight heads are you using? Did you have to modify the mold to fit the hooks?

I too am liking the Ultra Point 32833 for light salt water apps, currently the #2 in a 1/4 oz. custom is becoming my fluff jig choice for targeting local pan size species but perhaps a #1 might be better for pompano pier jacking. Hooks feel solid enuf to handle larger bycatch, but haven't had the opportunity yet.

[wilfish4774]

HawnJigs, wouldn't it be nice to hear more from the flats fishermen concerning the jigs that they use. I have never caught a bone fish nor even fished the south florida flats but I would be surprised if the bone fish or Permit for that matter did not eat some sort of small jig. Judging from your posts that I have read it would seem that you have done your fare share of "trial and error" when it comes to fashioning jigs. At least in my case this sort of experience has not been gleaned over night. Your knowledge of the jig hooks easily surpasses my own which might be saying something in consideration of my collection of boxes of jig hooks that I found did not meet my scrutiny. If you do not mind my asking, in the area of florida that you reside, is there any pompano run that you involve yourself in? It seems that I recollect you relating that you reside a bit further south/east than I do.

[hawnjigs]

Wilfish, I'm actually a bit further south/west from you, around 6,000 miles. Having grown up wading the flats of Kaneohe Bay flinging jigs at jacks, ladyfish, barracuda, & even a few bonefish makes me comfortable bumping ideas with FL nearshore jiggers, even tho I "haven't had the opportunity yet".

Local Hilo Bay runs of pompano similar papio have me running the other way to avoid the crowds.

Having far more jig hooks than I'll ever use. I feel knowledgeable enuf to say "you get what you pay for".

[pirkfan]

mehill10, on 24 March 2010 - 07:45 PM, said:

thats the hook i was looking for the 34185 but no one has it any more

jaggedtoothtackle.com has the 34185S (stainless steel 60 degree jig hook) in sizes 2/0 thru 4/0. These hooks fit the Do-It RHO-5-A heavy hook round head jig with little or no modification. Very corrosion resistant hook.