Best Hooks For Catfishing

As recently as the turn of this century, there weren’t many dedicated catfish hooks on the market. Essentially, you were stuck with using a standard J hook, using one of the very few circle hooks available on the market, or creating your own with a pair of pliers.

Thankfully, things are changing. More and more rugged hooks are coming onto the market, with many of them being circle hooks for catfishing. Circle hooks are the best for catfishing – no doubt about it. But of course, this surge in popularity has come with its share of knock-offs and cheap hooks. We’ve searched for the best hooks for catfishing on the market, to help you sort out the wheat from the chaff.

In our list, we’ve taken particular note of catfish hook size. Whether you’re looking for a heavy size 12 or 14 hooks for hauling in a large blue or flathead, or whether you need a lighter hook for landing a channel catfish, we’ve got you covered.

Best Catfish Hooks

1. Catfishing Sumo Sweeper

Catfish Sumo Sweeper Hooks are as sharp as they get.

Key Features

• Circle/J hook hybrid
• Black nickel construction
• Size 8/0 hook
• Comes in a pack of 25

Catfish Sumo Sweeper is designed primarily for trolling. They’re technically a hybrid, but the way they’re designed, the hook will be poorly oriented for jigging once it’s been baited. These hooks are well-sized for most catfish, although they run slightly small for the biggest fish.

The only downside of the Sumo Sweeper is that it has a relatively narrow gap, so you’ll need to be patient about setting the hook. Then again, once it’s set, it doesn’t let go easily.

Pros

• Tough and durable
• Exceptionally sharp
• Comes with a carrying case

Cons

• Difficult to set

If you want the sharpest hooks on the market, it’s tough to beat the Sumo Sweeper.

2. Catfish Sumo Heavyweights

Catfish Sumo Heavyweights have a hybrid design that’s useful both for trolling and for jigging.

Key Features

• Circle/J hook hybrid
• High carbon steel construction
• Size 10/0 hook
• Comes in a pack of 25

Catfish Sumo Heavyweight Catfish Hooks are constructed from heavy-duty carbon steel, which stands up very well to tough fighters. As long as your knot technique is on point, you’ll get several catches from just a single one of these hooks.

The Sumo Heavyweight is designed to set in the fish’s lip, not in the roof of the mouth or in the gut. Now, this is never a guarantee, but provided you don’t wait for the fish to swallow the bait completely, odds are good that you’ll have a successful catch-and-release trip.

A 25-pack of these hooks is a bit more expensive than most hooks, but as we mentioned they’ll last you for a long time.

Pros

• Comes with a storage case
• Very durable
• Sets in the lip and not in the gut

Cons

• Pricey

These hooks are an ideal choice for catch-and-release.

3. Gamakatsu Octopus

The Gamakatsu Octopus Hook is the only J hook on our list, but it’s well designed enough for any catfish.

Key Features

• J hook
• Forged carbon steel construction
• Available in sizes 1, 1/0, 2, 2/0, 3/0, 4, 5, 5/0, 6, 6/0, 7/0, 8, 8/0, 9/0, and 10/0
• Comes in a pack of 25 or 100

The Gamakatsu Octopus Hook was originally designed for catching octopuses and similar creatures, but it’s also a great choice for reeling in a catfish. These hooks come in a 25-pack, and they’re available in an insane number of sizes, ranging from a tiny size 1 all the way up to a beefy 10/0.

Regardless of what size you’re getting a slightly modified J hook. The shank is angled ever so slightly forward, so it’s almost a circle hook hybrid, but not quite. The eye is angled backwards, providing a counterbalance, which makes this hook a solid choice for jigging as well as catfishing.

These hooks are constructed from durable high-carbon steel that’s very strong and resistant to breaking. That said, they’re susceptible to bending under a heavy load, so make sure to get a big enough hook for the type of catfish you’re trying to catch. They arrive sharp, with a barb that remains sharp even after you’ve baited it several times.

Because of its open design, this hook is very easy to sink. It also features a closed eye on the top, which makes it harder to slip off the line than an open-eye loop.

Pros

• Easy to use
• Very sharp
• Almost never breaks

Cons

• Bends under heavy stress

If you want a catfishing hook that’s also well-suited to catching other large freshwater fish, this is a great choice.

4. JSHANMEI

JSHANMEI comes in a large package of 125.

Key Features

• Circle hook
• Forged high carbon steel construction
• Available in sizes 1, 2/0, 3/0, 4/0, and 5/0
• Comes in a pack of 125, 25 of each size

JSHANMEI Hooks are true circle hooks, which means they have a vertical shank with a barb that curls inwards. They’re constructed from high-carbon steel, which is virtually unbreakable and exceptionally sharp. That said, this particular alloy is prone to corrosion, so you won’t get as much use out of them as you will from a higher-priced hook.

These hooks come in a large package, with 125 hooks in five different sizes. They have a closed eye, which keeps them on the line, and they also include a plastic sorting box, which makes it very easy to keep the different sizes separate.

Speaking of which, these are all small hooks. Even the largest size is poorly suited for a blue or a flathead. Then again, they’re an excellent choice for channel fish, and they make a great, lightweight addition to your tackle box.

Pros

• Razor sharp
• Comes with a sorting box
• Reasonably priced

Cons

• No big hooks
• Corrodes easily

These hooks are an excellent budget option.

5. Mustad UltraPoint Demon

The Mustad UltraPoint Demon is an aggressively curved circle hook that’s designed to sink extra deep and hold very securely.

Key Features

• Circle hook
• Low-carbon stainless steel construction
• Available in sizes 3/0, 4/0, 5/0, 6/0, 7/0, 8/0, 9/0, and 10/0
• Comes in a pack of 25

The Mustad UltraPoint Circle 3 is constructed from low-carbon stainless steel. This makes them corrosion-resistant, and also very rugged as compared to higher-carbon steel. For this reason, Mustad is able to produce a more slender hook that almost looks fragile. But don’t let it fool you, it’ll handle some abuse.

These hooks have a bit of a compromise in their design, but it’s universal to this style of hook. Because of the extreme curve, the gap between the shank and the tip is very small, which can make it difficult to set, particularly if you’ve got a hesitant biter. On the other hand, once this hook is set, it stays set. The closed eye is very secure, and the barb is viciously curved.

Pros

• Sharp and stays sharp
• Rugged design
• Vicious barb

Cons

• Difficult to set

If you need a catfish hook that bites hard and won’t let go, this is a great choice.

6. Croch

Croch Octopus Circle Hooks are very rugged, so they can handle a tough bite or a hard fight.

Key Features

• Circle hook
• High carbon steel construction
• Available in sizes 1, 1/0, 2/0, 3/0, 4/0, and 5/0
• Comes in a pack of 150 (25 of each size)

Croch Octopus Circle Hooks ship in a 150-pack, with 30 hooks each in sizes 1, 1/0, 2/0, 3/0, 4/0, and 5/0. It’s designed to be as durable as possible, with a carbon steel construction that’s tough enough to stand up to a tough fight, although as with any smaller catfish hook you want to be careful about using them to bring in a big lunker.

These hooks include a storage case, and have a circle hook, along with an angled eye for good balance. The wide opening between the shank and the tip gives you plenty of space for setting the hook, which means you’ll lose fewer fish.

On that note, you’ll want to be careful about the eyes. The quality of the manufacturing is inconsistent, and some of them come out open instead of closed. You can either fix them with a pair of needle-nose pliers or take your chances.

These are also good hooks for catch-and-release. They’re designed to catch the fish’s lip instead of lodging inside the mouth or in the guts, so you’ll have much better odds of being able to let your fish go without any serious injury.

Pros

• Rugged design
• Comes with a storage case
• Easy to set

Cons

• Inconsistent eye closure

These hooks are a good value, with 150 of them in a set.

7. Gamakatsu

Gamakatsu is a hybrid version of the Gamakatsu J hook that kicked off our list.

Key Features

• Circle/J hook hybrid
• Nickel construction
• Size 5/0 hook
• Comes in a pack of 25

It’s more heavily curved, with a tip that arches so hard that it points directly to the shank. This design makes it easy to sink in the lips or in the corner of the mouth, which makes it useful for catch-and-release, as well as just plain easy to remove and reuse.

This hook has a closed eye, for plenty of security. It keeps your line from slipping off the hook, even in a tough, wild fight. A fish is going to have to break the line or the hook in order to get free, and the odds of the hook breaking are pretty slim.

This hook is rated for saltwater use, which is a nice feature. But you’ll want to be careful about using it in the ocean anyway; it only comes in a size 5. It also runs on the pricey side, but it’s a great value considering what you get.

Pros

• Rated for saltwater use
• Easy to set
• Closed eye

Cons

• A little pricey

These saltwater-rated fish hooks are designed to set easily and sink securely.

8. Eagle Claw

The Eagle Claw Lazer Sharp Circle Hook is a rough-and-ready hook that comes in a pack of 85.

Key Features

• Circle hook
• Stainless steel construction (nickel in size 2)
• Available in sizes 2, 4, 6, and 8
• Comes in an assorted pack of 85

The Eagle Claw Lazer Sharp Circle Hook is designed to be tough, which is exactly what you want when you’re trying to set a barb in the mouth of a fat catfish.

They’re constructed from rugged stainless steel, and the large size 8 hooks are designed for big lunkers, like an 80-pound blue or flathead. The size 8 hooks are also upgraded with a nickel construction, which makes them impervious to the ravages of saltwater.

These hooks have a very sharp inward curve, with a wide barb that won’t let go once it catches. This is fortunate since that same tight curve and the narrow gap make it difficult to set. You’ll need to be patient with this hook, and wait for the fish to swallow your bait, or at least take a big enough bite that the hook will catch the roof of the mouth.

Pros

• Rugged design
• Larger hooks are saltwater rated
• Very sharp

Cons

• Difficult to set

These hooks are very sharp on arrival, just as the name implies.

9. Mustad 3551 Classic

The Mustad 3551 Classic is the only treble hook on our list, and it’s itching to sink into a catfish.

Key Features

• Treble J hook
• Nickel or stainless steel construction
• Available in sizes 1, 1/0, 2, 2/0, 3/0, 4, 5, 5/0, 6, 6/0, 7/0, 8, 8/0, 9/0, 10, 10/0, 12, 12/0, 14, 14/0, 16, 18, and 20
• Comes in a pack of 5 or 25

The Mustad 3551 Classic is a treble hook that’s available in a wide variety of sizes. And we do mean a wide variety. You can order it in anything from a 1 to a 20, which is pretty much every size of hook that you could possibly ask for.

This hook is exceptionally sharp, so it sets easily. And provided the fish has given it a decent bite, you’re virtually guaranteed to be successful. Just make sure to buy a large enough size, because the forging process makes the metal more prone to breaking than many other hooks.

Pros

• Very easy to set
• Corrosion-resistant
• Five color options
• Very sharp

Cons

• Easy to break

This powerful hook is available even in very large sizes. Forget about catfish; you can catch a tuna with some of these.

10. UCEC

UCEC Circle Hooks feature a steeply-sloped tip that’s designed to slide off the fish’s mouth and set in the lip instead.

Key features

• Circle hook
• High carbon steel construction
• Comes in sizes 1, 1/0, 2/0, 3/0, 4/0, 5/0, 6/0, and 8/0
• Comes in an assorted pack of 150

UCEC Circle Hooks are an excellent choice for catch and release fishing. Now, you may wonder why you’d catch and release with a circle hook, rather than with a traditional J hook. Isn’t the point of a circle hook to set more securely? Yes and no. The point is to re-direct the force of the fish’s pulls and to keep them from working their way loose during the retrieve.

That said, when you’re fishing for smaller catfish, it’s inevitable that you’re going to accidentally catch some other species in the mix, and some of these fish are going to have to be thrown back. By hooking them in the lip instead of the mouth, you ensure a cruelty-free release, so those fish will live to bite another day.

Pros

• Designed to set in the lip
• Reliable eye closure
• Comes with a storage case
• Affordable

Cons

• Breaks easily

If you want a circle hook that’s safe for catching and releasing smaller fish, this is a good choice.

11. Kunsilane Big River

The Kunsilane is a hybrid hook that’s designed primarily for jigging, although it’s also serviceable as a trolling hook.

Key Features

• Circle/J hook hybrid
• High carbon steel construction
• Available in sizes 8/0 and 10/0
• Comes in a pack of 40

The Kunsilane Big River Bait Hook comes in a 40-pack, either in size 8 or size 10. Needless to say, these are big hooks, better suited for heavyweights than it is for small channel catfish. The hybrid shape provides excellent balance, as well as allowing you to use the hook for a variety of fishing methods.

These hooks are very durable and set with ease. Just be prepared to pay a premium for quality.

Pros

• Great for jigging
• Easy to set
• Rugged design
• Exceptionally sharp

Cons

• A little pricey

The large gap on this hook makes it very easy to set.

Bottom Line

When searching for a quality catfish hook, it’s important to look first for a hook that’s exceptionally rigid and strong. Catfish mouths are very hard on top and can bend a lightweight hook. As a result, not only is it important to find a strong hook, you should also go a size or two larger than you would for a different species of comparable weight.

Don’t worry. The fish would still bite. Catfish are notorious for gobbling down anything they lay their beady little eyes on.

So, what’s the best hook for catfish?

Honestly, it depends on your preference. A circle hook is best for setting from side to side, with a sweeping motion. On the other hand, if you prefer jigging your bait, a hybrid hook, sometimes called an offset hook, is an easier choice. And, of course, a treble hook is always a great option, since you’ll have three times as many opportunities to set it.

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