SANTEC - UMBRELLA HOOK 15cm/18cm/19cm/20cm/21cm SQUID HOOK SQUID FISHING

Santec Umbrella Hook 15cm / 18cm / 19cm / 20cm / 21cm Squid Hook

These are the large umbrella hooks — baited rigs for big squid and octopus rather than lures. Each carries crowns of fine needle points around a central stainless shaft. A whole fish is bound to the shaft, the rig is lowered vertically and held, and when a squid or octopus wraps its arms around the bait the needles pin them from the inside the moment you lift. No strike is involved. Santec builds four models here — Mam-Ma-Tau at 15–20 cm, Pandora at 19 cm, Thanatos at 20 cm and Phantom at 20–21 cm, the Phantom supplied with lead already fitted. What separates them is the number and shape of the crowns.

Key Features

• Stainless steel construction for salt water and repeated bait changes
• Single, double and triple crown layouts along the shaft
• U-shape and V-shape crown geometries, and combined U/V layouts on the Mam-Ma-Tau
• Phantom models come weighted: 20 cm with 90 g, 21 cm with 50 g
• Sizes from 15 cm to 21 cm for whole bait fish and large targets
• Vertical bait presentation — no strike needed to hook up

How To Fish It

• Choose by crown count and size — A single U crown (Thanatos 20 cm, Phantom 21 cm) is the straightforward choice for one bait fish and large squid. Double crowns (Pandora 19 cm, Mam-Ma-Tau 20 cm, Phantom 20 cm) give two catching levels along the shaft, which matters when a big octopus spreads over the whole bait. The triple-crown Pandora is the heaviest-duty option. Mam-Ma-Tau's 15 cm and 18 cm U/V layouts suit smaller baits and lighter tackle.
• Weighted or unweighted — The 90 g and 50 g Phantom models carry their own lead, which keeps them vertical in tide and saves rigging a sinker. Unweighted models need a sinker below or above the rig, sized to hold the bottom on the day.
• Bind the bait along the shaft — Lay a whole fish head-up against the shaft and wrap firmly with elastic thread so the body sits inside the crowns and nothing swings free.
• Drop and wait — For octopus, hold on the bottom over rock and rubble, moving the rig only slightly every 20–30 seconds. For big squid, hold at the depth they are showing. This is a waiting technique, not a jigging one.
• Lift steadily, never jerk — A take feels like a slow, heavy load. Lean into it to break the animal off the bottom, then wind at one constant speed with the rod loaded. Pumping creates slack, and slack is how a gripping octopus regains the reef.

Target Species By Region

• Southeast Asia — Octopus (kurita) over rock and wreck ground and large bigfin reef squid (sotong besar) from candat sotong boats, jetties and breakwaters in Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines.
• North America — Octopus over rocky Pacific structure and Humboldt squid on deep night drifts, subject to local rules.
• Japan & East Asia — Madako and large octopus on baited boat and breakwater rigs, and big aoriika taken on baited squid gear.
• Australia, Middle East & Europe — Maori octopus and large southern calamari on reef and jetty marks; common octopus and cuttlefish on Mediterranean and Gulf rock ground.

Specifications

Recommended Pairing

• Heavy boat or jetty rod with the backbone to lift a gripping octopus clear of structure
• PE 2.0–4.0 braid or 40–80 lb monofilament with a heavy abrasion-resistant leader
• 5000–8000 size spinning reel or an overhead with a firm drag
• Elastic bait thread, whole bait fish, and a sinker for the unweighted models