How it works
A fishing hook runs from the eye, where the line is tied, down the shank and round the bend to the point and its barb. The gap and the bite are the spans a hook is measured by.
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Gap and bite
The gap is the width from the point across to the shank; hook sizes follow it. The bite runs from the point straight down to the inside of the bend, and shows how deep the hook can set.
Eyes, ends and kinds
An up-turned eye is angled away from the point, a down-turned eye towards it. A spade end has no hole at all. A circle hook's point turns in to face the shank; a treble hook has three points on one eye.
Questions and answers
What are the parts of a fishing hook called?
The eye, where the line is tied; the shank, the straight stem; the bend, the curve; the point, the sharp end; and the barb, the small backward spike behind the point. The gap and the bite are its two measured spans.
What is the barb on a fishing hook for?
It points backwards from the point and catches in the fish, so the hook cannot slide back out. A barbless hook has none, which makes it quicker to take out when a fish is released.
What is the difference between a J hook and a circle hook?
A J hook's point faces up, parallel to the shank. A circle hook's bend is nearly round and its point turns in to face the shank, so it usually catches the corner of the jaw rather than being swallowed.