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What does “Ought” mean?

Posted on: Sep 04, 2008

Posted in: Hooks, News From Chris
1 Comment »

I received a great question from an Eagle Claw user and I thought I would share with everyone. I know it is a common question and I hear some pretty wild answers.

When a person says, “I caught ‘em on a one ought (1/0) hook or I use a four ought (4/0) hook”, what does that really mean? What does that number and the “ought” refer to?

The “ought” is a size reference and is a measure of the size or dimension of a hook within a range of sizes. It is written out like 4/0 or 7/0 for example.

Normally, as the hook size gets smaller, the number gets larger – a size 10 is smaller than a size 6 hook.

Because many hook styles are offered in a wide range of sizes, they go below zero and that is where the “ought” comes into play. For example a size 1/0 hook is larger than a size 2. After hooks go below zero, the number following the “ought” keeps getting bigger as the size gets bigger – a 7/0 hook is bigger than a 3/0 hook.

You see these sizes in many of our saltwater applications and anywhere you would use a big hook for big fish.

What is the biggest hook we make? Well, it is a 20/0 circle hook used for big Black and Blue Marlin, Tuna and Sharks.

Check out all Eagle Claw and Lazer Sharp hooks on our web. Visit eagleclawclassic.com – click on products and then on product catalog. You’ll see a complete line of styles and sizes.

Great fishing – Chris