By Craig Nyhus
Lone Star Outdoor News
Lower Laguna Madre anglers have been switching to single hooks on shallow-water and top-water lures for years, especially in summer when the treble hooks seem to immediately find the grass floating on the surface.
“I make the switch when there is lots of floating grass,” said Capt. Ruben Garza of Port Mansfield.
Garza attaches short-shanked hooks to his lures, to avoid the problem of the hooks catching each other. Debates regarding the hookup rate range from anglers preferring either the treble or the single hooks.
Garza and Port Aransas guide Dean Thomas both use Gamakatsu 1/0 live bait hooks. Once the fish is hooked, Garza and many anglers believe the catch rate improves with a single hook.
Some saltwater lure manufacturers, aware of the trend, have stepped to the plate.
For more on this story, please email mhughs@lonestaroutdoornews.com.
