TARGUS FLY HOOKS
Peter Morse tests some new saltwater fly hooks

There are a lot of very good saltwater fly hooks on the market these days—we are flooded with choice from specialised circle hooks designed for fly-tying through to ‘big game’ fly hooks that are great for the job they’re designed to do. New technologies are creating stronger, sharper hooks with finer wire designed with saltwater fly fishing in mind. It’s a big change from having to adapt hooks designed for other forms of fishing.

Targus hooks come to us via the US—they’re made in Japan and are purpose built saltwater fly hooks. What does it take to be classed as a genuine saltwater fly hook? Lighter wire and fine barbs for a start, pin sharp points help, and eyes big enough to get shock-tippet material through. Whether a hook needs to be stainless or not depends on the application. In my opinion everyday hooks for general rough-house fishing (such as hooks for tying Clousers) should be stainless. Flies tied for specific target species (big barramundi, billfish, mackerel, saratoga etc) can, in my opinion, be tied on non-stainless hooks because on the whole these are stronger and sharper.

Targus hooks fit the bill design-wise but they are also great value. They come in both O’Shaunessy and Tarpon style in packets of 50 from size 8 to 3/0.

I’ve used them on a lot of fish recently and although I’ve straightened a few out when extracting flies from fish (I know, I should squish the barbs down first) I haven’t managed to open one up on a fish in spite of some fairly torrid battles with big bones in New Caledonia and trevally around the Weipa beacons.

I’ve snapped a couple when straightening them out again but that to me indicates that a harder steel has been used in these hooks. Finding the balance between weight, strength and the hardness to hold a great point is the fine line that hook-makers walk. I think the Targus people have it pretty right. They’re well priced too.

Distributed by Ashley Artis: phone 03 6427 0997.