Fishing hooks come in many styles, and the best one depends on the fish you're targeting and the bait or lure you're using.

Here are some of the most common types:

  • J-hooks – The standard all-purpose hook for live bait, cut bait, and artificial lures.
  • Circle hooks – Designed to hook fish in the corner of the mouth, making catch-and-release easier and reducing deep hooking. Popular for catfish and saltwater fishing.
  • Octopus hooks – Short-shank hooks that work well with live bait and soft plastics.
  • Baitholder hooks – Have small barbs on the shank to help keep worms and other soft bait in place.
  • Treble hooks – Three hooks joined together, commonly found on hard lures such as crankbaits and spoons.
  • Wide-gap (EWG) hooks – Ideal for soft plastic worms and creature baits, especially when fishing around weeds.

Hook sizes are numbered:

  • Smaller hooks: Sizes #12 to #6 for small fish such as panfish.
  • Medium hooks: Sizes #4 to #1 for trout, tilapia, and medium-sized freshwater fish.
  • Larger hooks: 1/0 to 5/0 for bass, catfish, and larger freshwater species.
  • Extra-large hooks: 6/0 and above for large saltwater fish.