Sakuma 540 Manta Hooks

Description

The Sakuma 540 Manta is a highly popular and respected hook, particularly among UK sea anglers. It’s a go-to choice for a wide variety of bait fishing applications, from beach and pier fishing to boat fishing. Known for its strength, sharpness, and a specific design that works well with bulky baits, it has earned a reputation as a dependable workhorse.

Key Features and Construction

• Hook Pattern: The Sakuma 540 Manta is a “wide gape” hook. This means the gap between the hook point and the shank is significantly wider than on a standard hook. This design has two main benefits:
  1. Bulky Baits: It provides excellent presentation for larger, more voluminous baits such as crab, squid, mackerel, and lugworm. The wide gape ensures the bait sits well and the hook point is still exposed for a solid hook-up.
  2. Hook-Up Rate: The wide gape can improve the hook-up rate, as it provides a larger target area for the fish’s mouth to engage.
• Finish: The hook is finished in a durable anti-corrosive black nickel coating. This finish not only helps to protect the hook from the corrosive effects of saltwater but also provides a non-reflective, subtle appearance that can be an advantage when fishing for wary species.
• Wire Gauge: The 540 Manta is made from a super sharp, forged medium-to-heavy gauge wire. This provides a balance of strength and penetration. While it’s strong enough to handle a good fight, the needle point ensures easy penetration into the fish’s mouth. The forging process adds extra strength to the hook, preventing it from bending under pressure.
• Eye: The hook features a neat, straight eye, which makes it easy to tie on with a variety of knots.
• Micro Barb: The hook has a micro barb. This style of barb is small but effective, providing enough hold to keep a fish on while minimizing damage to the fish and making it easier to unhook.

Intended Use and Applications

The versatility of the Sakuma 540 Manta hooks makes them suitable for a vast range of fishing scenarios:

• Sea Fishing: This is their primary use. The larger sizes (e.g., 3/0, 4/0, 5/0) are a top choice for targeting specimen fish such as cod, bass, conger, and smoothhounds with large, bulky baits.
• Beach and Shore Fishing: They are a staple for anglers casting from the shore, used in a variety of rigs, including single hook rigs, two-hook clipped rigs, and pennel rigs. Their wide gape is particularly well-suited for a pennel system where a bulky bait like a whole crab or a large worm is used.
• Boat Fishing: The larger sizes are also popular for boat fishing, especially for targeting species like cod and pollack with a variety of baits.
• Smaller Sizes: The smaller sizes (e.g., 6, 4, 2, 1) are excellent for targeting smaller species and for match fishing. They are perfect for presenting smaller baits for species like dab, whiting, and pouting.