Gamakatsu

Gamakatsu is a Japanese hook manufacturer widely regarded as one of the best in the world. They are known for their ultra-sharp, chemically sharpened hooks, exceptional strength-to-wire-gauge ratio, and a massive range of styles built for both freshwater and saltwater fishing.

Absolutely. Gamakatsu Octopus Hooks and Slip Tie Mooching Rigs are staples for salmon fishing along the BC coast. Whether you're mooching herring off Ucluelet or drift fishing the Campbell River, Gamakatsu hooks are trusted by local anglers for their sharpness and holding power.

Octopus Hooks have a short shank and offset point, making them ideal for live bait, snelled rigs, and bottom fishing. Circle Hooks are designed to self-set in the corner of the fish's mouth, reducing gut-hooking — a great choice for catch-and-release or when targeting large species on chunk bait.

The G-Finesse series is designed for light-line, finesse fishing techniques such as Neko Rig, shaky head, and wacky rig. They feature a fine wire construction and ultra-sharp point to maximize hook-ups on pressured fish with subtle presentations.

For soft plastics, the EWG (Extra Wide Gap) Worm Hook is a top pick for Texas and Carolina rigs, while the G-Lock Hook excels in heavy cover where you need to keep plastics locked in place. The Finesse Wide Gap Hook is ideal for wacky rigging.

Yes, Gamakatsu offers barbless versions of several hook styles, including their popular Octopus Hooks. Barbless hooks are required in many BC freshwater fisheries and make catch-and-release quicker and less stressful on the fish.

Gamakatsu Siwash Hooks feature an open eye that makes them easy to swap onto spinnerbaits, inline spinners, and spoons as a trailer hook replacement. They're a popular upgrade for anglers looking to improve hook-up ratios on hardware.

The MaxEye Jig series is purpose-built for walleye fishing. They feature a unique pill head or swim head design, a dual offset rebarb wire keeper for secure plastic retention, and are built on Gamakatsu's Big River Jig Hook for reliable hook-ups.

You can shop a full selection of Gamakatsu terminal tackle at The Harbour Chandler, including Octopus Hooks, EWG Worm Hooks, G-Finesse series, jigs, and pre-tied rigs — all stocked for West Coast freshwater and saltwater fishing.

Hook size depends on your target species and bait. For salmon and steelhead, sizes 1/0 to 4/0 Octopus Hooks are common. For trout or panfish, smaller sizes like #4 to #8 work well. For soft plastics, match the hook gap to the width of your bait for the best presentation and hook-up rate.