Alright gents, this is a newb question all the way. How do you guys get a good hook set after the "thump" while bottom fishing? I've tried dipping my rod until they take off, I've tried slowly lifting my rod, i've tried slowing reeling and I always seem to pull the bait out of their mouth. Also, does where you hook your bait play a large part in successful and non-successful hook ups?
Get better hooks and hook the bait the way it would swim most natural. I hook most of my baits through the head.
Circle hooks are ment to be reeled not jerked, after the fish is hooked pump and reel without putting slack in the line.
Find a circle hook size to match the bait size, although I like bigger hooks with a bigger gap to increase hook up ratio.
What are you fishing for?
Reel sick, mainly fishing for snappers. What brand of hooks do you reccomend? Do you hook your bait from the bottom up through the nostrils or do you go in one nostril and out the other?
Just let them take it, no extra activity needed. Reel like hell and don't stop till its up. Once it's up, keep it tight so that circle hook doesn't drop out of that wallowed hole.
I personally like the octopus hook style gamakatsu, owner and several other manufacturers make them. I do not buy owner they are to expensive. I tend to buy more Mustad hooks than any other brand.
By the sounds of it you are getting the small snapper bites, they are closers to the bottom. Try a knocker rig with about a half ounce lead above your hook with a big bait and hold your rod tip high if you get a hit dip the rod with the bite then reel to set the hook. If they are short striking it try free spooling them a little bit to let them eat it. Cut bait is also a great bait for snapper on a 5/0 to an 8/0 hook depending on brand.
The key to snapper fishing is the lighter the better a heavy chunk of cut bait on just a circle hook if you throw it up against the current and let it sink slow will result in larger fish guaranteed with a 3' fluorocarbon leader 40lb test.
I always hook baits through the mouth starting from the bottom jaw.
Good luck and tight lines.
Don't reel or pull until the rod "loads up" a bit. For mingos and triggers and other "nip" feeders I do lift the rod once it loads. Just a smooth lift not a jerk If no hookup then I lower it back down. For more aggressive fish like snappers, ajs, grouper I just reel.
Dittos on not reeling until the rod loads up a bit
Circle hook snelled to the leader improves hook-ups also
I use mutu light wire 5/0 or 7/0 for snapper -
5/0 for 50 lb braid or lighter , the 7/0 for 65 or 80 lb braid
I hook through the 'lips' so the bait does not spin on the drop ..
When I get someone new who just can't resist setting the hook like Bill Dance - I ask them to leave the rod in the rod holder, and turn the reel handle once the rod 'stays bent over a bit" - that actually works great!
Honestly it sounds like you have been doing the right thing for the most part. If you are in an area with a lot of smaller snapper, it's just a lot harder to get them hooked up than the bigger ones. Bigger snapper are just going to drill it, while smaller fish will peck and pop and then when you start feeling that tug, that's the fish hanging on to the bait itself, with the hook not in his mouth. There are a couple techniques I use in situations like these. For one, dial your leader, weight, and hooksize back a bit. Use small live baits, and let your weight actually rest on the bottom with just a little slack. When you feel them start to bite, resist the urge to reel. Wait until you feel him start to pull on you a bit, then start reeling. The other tactic the works well is a knocker rig like you mentioned. I like to use a 1oz weight for most situations and a 30lb spinning outfit usually with 40lb flouro. Pitch it out and give it plenty of slack to sink down. Leave the bail open, and feel the line with your fingers. When you feel the bite with your fingers, give it a 3 count and start reeling. It also works well with small pieces of cut bait such as bonito or mackerel. Both of these tactics work well for me when the bite is tough and the bigger fish either aren't there or aren't biting. Good luck!