b'Size 12 or 14 trout hooks are the writers favourite for catching piper and mackerel.HOOK PLACEMENT the neck works but I would alsomostly skin but dont bury the When it comes to the placement ofadvise hooking the piper throughhook with too much flesh under the hook in the live bait, there arethe ventral fins near the base ofthe curve of the hook. It needs a few factors to consider. Whenthe tail. The bone structure of theto be able to catch in the corner using circle hooks for small live baitlower back fins can secure a smallof the mouth when the pressure species like mackerel and koheru,strong hook quite nicely and itcomes on and if it is buried under I suggest placing the circle hookwont pull out. It also hinders thetoo much flesh, it wont rip out through the gristle in front of thepiper less than hooking it throughof the bait on the strike or if the eye and close to the nose. You canthe neck. Piper are a favouritewhole thing slides out of the also hook them through the necksnack for kingfish so they are worthpredators mouth, it is less likely but avoid the backbone of course. persevering and fiddling around with. to catch in the corner of the jaw.A neck hooked yellow eyedCircle hooks for larger live baitsCircle hooks as I mentioned in my mullet is also preferable. Whenlike kahawai will work when securedlast article must be set with gentle it comes to piper, a hook throughthrough the neck of the fish withpressure and not a hard strike./FISHINGINGODZONE23'