Doggies/Small conger hook sizes

[David]

What are the recomened hook sizes form the adove species.
tHANKS

[BigPhil]

for doggies really anything from a size 2 up to perhaps a 3/0 in some areas!
when match fishing from the beaches etc for them up here it is more common to see the likes of a kamasan b940 or a mustad 3261bln in sizes 2 up to 1/0 used for them
as for small congers, how small do you mean??!
anything really from 2/0 up should do the trick, for a mackerel head and guts bait id recommend about a 6/0 in either a mustad viking or bronzed o'shaughnessy pattern. for congers etc please try to use bronzed hooks as if you have to cut the hook inside them , they will be able to get rid of a bronzed one much easier

[David]

Thanks Bigphil.

[Davy Murdoch]

I would always stick to 8/0 for congers of any size sometimes even 10/0 when there is a good chance of a biggie cos they`ll have no problem gulping it down .you could use a 6/0 which even a doggie will have no problem getting hooked on.i have even caught a 14oz rockling on an 8/0.we get dogs on conger gear at Ramore head all the time and you cant be guaranteed that you`ll only get small conger,if there are straps about there could be a biggie knocking about too. :)
I agree with phil always use hooks that rust quickly.bronzed o`shaunessys will rust in a few days and drop out.

[BigPhil]

on the boat i have seen lsds caught on 10/0's before but for general fishing the smaller sizes will be more productive with more dogs caught .
i think you have to select hook size according to your bait size also.lets face it, a joey mackerel or the like for conger bait would look a little bit on the big side for a 4/0 hook and therefore the likes of a 8/0 would be better suited.thats said, a good strong 2/0 or 4/0 will land even the bigger fish if they do take your bait most of the time.where are you planning to try for the dogs and strap conger david?

[jonny gilbert]

Ive found 4/0's up to 6/0 work well with the congers. i caught my biggest eel of 26lb on a 4/0 viking in portrush harbour. As for doggies 1/0 g-point hooks are the best for the doggies for some reason they always get them in the siscors of there mouth.....

[col]

Hi, I'm thinkin of trying for some congers but I have never targeted them before. Can they be caught at this time of year or is it more a summer thing?
Do congers often swallow the hook and is there any tips to handling them for a first timer? :shock: Don't wory I'll be sure to have pliers and a strong glove, mabye a towel, any other handy things needed to make life easier? Of course I plan to return any caught so is a bronzed hook the only way to go?
Sorry about all the questions, any info v. appreciated.
Tight lines, Col.

[BigPhil]

a t-bar disgorger is best to use for congers, then use their body weight against them to release the hook.a pair of wire cutters are also handy to cut the heavy mono or wire hooklength if it is deeply hooked.

[jonny gilbert]

if you don't have a disgorger if you can....get your fingers into the congers gills they can't move there head and it makes it alot easier to remove the hook if it hasn't swallowed the hook and bronzed hook are the way to go cause if you have to cut the line the hook will rust away within a matter of day :)

[Seaniebo]

When I was a kid, I used to use the frame of a small hacksaw as a t-bar. Did the job fine.

[David]

I will try for doggies at Portmuck, but I will try for Conga at St Johns point in the summer.