THE ANGLAR - WIDE GAP J-TYPE INLINE CIRCLE 4215 PRAWN HOOKS PRAWN FISHING

The Anglar Wide Gap J-Type Inline Circle 4215 Prawn Hooks

The 4215 is the only circle hook in the Anglar prawn range, and a circle works on a different principle to everything else on the rack. Its point turns back towards the shank rather than standing parallel to it, so it will not drive into whatever it touches. Under tension it slides until the shank reaches the corner of the jaw, then rotates and takes hold from the outside in — lodging in the jaw hinge, not deep inside. Around that sits a wide-gap J-type body, tournament-grade carbon and a turned-up ringed eye in black nickel.

Key Features

• Circle geometry — sets itself in the jaw corner under tension
• Inline point: it lies in the plane of the shank, not twisted to one side
• Wide-gap J-type profile for clearance around a live prawn or bulky bait
• Eagle-cutting, chemically sharpened needle point with a retaining barb
• Turned-up ringed eye for mono, fluorocarbon or leader
• Black nickel; five sizes, #5 to #1, twenty per pack

Inline versus offset. On an inline (non-offset) circle the point sits in the plane of the shank; on an offset or kirbed circle it is twisted sideways. The offset bites earlier and grips harder, but it also lets the point catch on something before it reaches the jaw hinge — cancelling the reason for fishing a circle at all. Inline circles finish in the jaw corner far more consistently and put far fewer hooks down a throat, which is why they are the version specified where circles are a condition of release. Check your local rules.

How To Rig It

• The set happens at the reel handle — When the tip pulls over, keep the rod low and keep winding until the blank loads. Snatching the rod up drags the hook straight back out, which is why anglers new to circles think they have gone blind to bites.
• Keep the gap open — Pin a live prawn lightly through the horn on top of the head, or thread flesh onto the shank only. Bait wrapped over the bend blocks the rotation.
• Fish it under tension — A running sinker, a light float or a rod in a holder all suit it, provided there is no belly of slack. Held in the jaw corner from the outside, most fish then come off with one turn of the pliers.

Target Species By Region

• Southeast Asia — Giant freshwater prawn (udang galah) and pond prawns in Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand; live prawn for barramundi (siakap), mangrove jack and grouper (kerapu) at jetties and mangrove roots.
• North America — Shrimp for redfish, speckled trout and sheepshead, and catfish baits fished from a rod holder.
• Japan & East Asia — Live-shrimp (ebi) rigs for seabass and rockfish; tenaga-ebi prawn fishing in the smaller sizes.
• Australia, Middle East & Europe — Prawn and yabby for bream and flathead in Australia, where circles are widely used for release; shrimp in the Gulf; worm on European estuary marks.

Specifications

#1 is the largest here, #5 the smallest. Finish: black nickel.

Choosing within the Anglar prawn range. Eight models, four decisions — barb or none, spade or ring eye, narrow gap or wide, J-bend or circle.

The other seven are J-hooks you set yourself. The 4215 is the one you do not.

Recommended Pairing

• A moderate, forgiving rod action — a stiff fast tip encourages the reflex strike a circle punishes
• 1000–3000 spinning reel, 4–15 lb line, drag light enough to let a fish move but firm enough to load the hook
• Fluorocarbon tied direct to the ring, or snelled for the truest rotation
• #4–#5 for pond and river prawns; #1–#2 for live prawn at predators