The three main things I look for in a hook are strength, sharpness, and barb profile. I don't carry loads of patterns around with me, so when I find a hook I like, I tend to stick with it so far as is possible. And on a recent fishing trip out with Tony Parry from Rhyl, I found just a hook. Well, not so much found as was given. Tony carries a limited amount of tackle aboard Jensen II for sale as a service to his anglers. "Have you seen these", he asked, and handed me a packet of 3/0 Sakuma Manta hooks.

I was particularly impressed with their wire strength, super sharpness, and low profile easy to disgorge barb. So much so that I asked Tony to put me in touch with their UK marketing people who informed me that Manta was one of three similar Sakuma patterns, the other two being Stinger which is a more compact pattern, and Manta "Extra" offering improved strength through increased wire thickness.

I field tested all three for the best part of a year in my everyday fishing, and with the exception Mustad UltraPoint circle hooks, no longer use anything else. I have yet to have one let me down, and to be honest, don't expect that one ever will. Their sharpness and strength match everything you could ask for in a hook. And perhaps I shouldn't be saying this, but their life expectancy through repeated use when washed under the tap at home, and if required, re-sharpened is high, allowing them to be reliably re-used on numerous occasions.

I particularly like the standard Manta pattern in all its sizes. I have used the Stinger for smaller fish and for presenting smaller baits, and the Manta "Extra" for heavier duty fishing such as big cod, conger and tope, and would have no problem recommending them to anybody.