Garren WoodFishing Hook Reference
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The Gamakatsu Octopus, stock number 02108, is a size 4 bait hook in bronze finish, sold ten to a pack. It has a short shank, a turned-up eye, a round bend, and an offset beak point. It is still in Gamakatsu’s current catalog.
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Gamakatsu specifies the Octopus as a forged hook with standard-strength wire, a short shank, a turned-up eye, and an offset beak point. The beak point curves slightly toward the shank, which helps the hook stay put once it has penetrated. The offset bends the point a little to one side of the plane of the shank, so it meets the fish’s mouth at an angle.
The round bend spreads load evenly around the curve. Paired with the short shank, it gives a wide gap for the hook’s overall length. On this size 4 specimen, the gap measures 8.6 mm and the overall length 18 mm.
Because the eye turns up, it stays clear of the gap. This also suits snelled rigs: the line leaves through the back of the eye, and on the hook set it pivots the point toward the fish.
Physical measurement with calipers
No records within garrenwood.com catalog context — this is a modern, mass-produced entry for reference and completeness, not for rarity or significance ranking.
We have measurement for size 4. Know any others? Submit calipered measurements and we'll review and add them. Thank you!
Sources: this specimen and its packaging.
The Octopus is one of Gamakatsu’s core bait-hook patterns. It has a short shank, a turned-up eye, a round bend, and an offset beak point that turns slightly in toward the shank. Gamakatsu makes it in sizes 14 through 10/0 and in more finishes than most of its patterns, including nickel, bronze, red, NS Black, green, blue, and a range of fluorescent colors.
The stock number records both finish and size. In the standard Octopus line, the first three digits give the finish: 020 for nickel, 021 for bronze, 023 for red, 024 for NS Black, and 026 for the fluorescent finishes. Green and blue use red-series numbers with a -G or -B suffix. The last two digits give the size, so 02108 is bronze size 4, 02308 is red size 4, and 02408 is NS Black size 4. Larger retail packs add a count suffix, as in 02108-25.
Several other Gamakatsu patterns share the Octopus name but have their own stock numbers. They include the Octopus Light, the Octopus Straight Eye, the 4X-strong Offshore Octopus, and the inline Octopus Circle.
No barcode visible on packaging; modern Gamakatsu product code format (five-digit SKU 02108) is typical of post-1970s Japanese hook manufacturing. Blue-and-white offset-printed label design and sans-serif typography are consistent with 1970s-onwards Japanese commercial printing. English-language warning label format is contemporary. Gamakatsu's market expansion to English-speaking regions dates to the 1970s-1980s. Exact production date cannot be narrowed further without additional documentation.
Gamakatsu stock numbers carry the finish and size in the digits. In 02108, the 021 marks the bronze Octopus and the 08 marks size 4, so the same hook in red is 02308 and in NS Black is 02408.
An octopus hook is defined by a combination of features rather than by the bend alone: a short shank, a turned-up eye, a round bend, and a point that turns in toward the shank. The short shank keeps the hook small for the size of its gap, which suits compact baits. The turned-up eye keeps the gap clear and works well with snelled and egg-loop knots.
Owner, Mustad, and other makers catalog octopus hooks in similar size ranges, and the name now describes a general style rather than one maker’s design. The sources consulted do not show where or when the name first came into use.
Gamakatsu has changed the finishes, wire weights, and eye styles of its Octopus while keeping the basic shape the same, as the Light, Straight Eye, Offshore, and Circle versions show.
| Silhouette | Hook Model | Match | Analysis | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
02308 No. 4 — Octopus | 91% | Compare | |
|
02109 No. 2 — Octopus | 89% | Compare | |
|
02310 No. 1 — Octopus Hook | 85% | Compare | |
|
02408 No. 4 — Octopus | 84% | Compare | |
|
02309 No. 2 — Octopus | 79% | Compare |
| Silhouette | Hook Model | Match | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
02310 No. 1 — Octopus Hook | 88% | Compare |
|
|
02308 No. 4 — Octopus | 88% | Compare |
|
|
02408 No. 4 — Octopus | 87% | Compare |
|
02011 No. 1/0 — Octopus | 83% | Compare |
|
02311 No. 1/0 — Octopus | 83% | Compare |
The Octopus is a general-purpose bait hook, and Gamakatsu calls it its most versatile pattern. The short shank and relatively wide gap suit compact baits such as salmon eggs, cured roe, worms, and small live baitfish. The turned-up eye makes it a standard choice for the snelled and egg-loop rigs used in salmon and steelhead drift fishing.
Size 4 fits trout, panfish, walleye, and steelhead bait rigs in fresh water, as well as small live or cut baits in estuaries and inshore salt water. Retailers also recommend the pattern for drop-shot and wacky-rigged soft plastics in bass fishing.
Bronze is the traditional low-glare finish for fresh water. For regular use in salt water, the nickel and NS Black versions of the same pattern resist corrosion better.
Soft-plastic lure rigging (jig heads), saltwater bottom fishing, eel presentations.
Not typically used for fly tying.
| Hook | Match Quality | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Gamakatsu 02108 (current production) | Excellent | The same stock number is still in Gamakatsu's catalog as the Octopus in bronze, size 4, ten per pack. |
| Owner S-1120 Octopus | Good | Owner's matching short-shank, turned-eye octopus hook is the SSW All Purpose Octopus, cataloged as 5311 with a needle point and 5111 with a cutting point. |
| Mustad 92661 Saltwater Octopus | Poor | Mustad 92661 is a Beak Baitholder with a 1X long shank, two bait-holding slices, a reversed beak point, and a ringed eye. It shares the in-turned point but not the Octopus's short plain shank or turned-up eye. |
Rated 2.5/10. The Gamakatsu Octopus is a mass-produced, modern hook with limited collector appeal. Common Gamakatsu models from the 1970s-1990s are abundantly available and rarely command premiums above original retail value. The blue-label packaging variant shown here is not documented as a distinct or limited release.
Factors supporting collectability: The hooks are still on the original sales card, which is in excellent condition. A complete, clean card documents Gamakatsu’s retail packaging and stock numbering for this pattern.
Factors limiting collectability: The 02108 is in current production and easy to buy from tackle retailers and online sellers. It has been made in high volume for many years, and no limited releases or discontinued variants of this stock number are documented.
Most desirable variants: Older packaging styles would hold more interest than current retail packs, if they can be dated. Sealed packs with the full hook count are preferred over opened ones.
Condition premium factors: Card condition and a complete hook count matter most. Creasing, fading, water damage, or missing hooks all lower value, but because replacement packs are cheap and plentiful, condition makes little difference to price.
Bright blue sales card (approximately 3.5" x 2.25") with offset-printed white and black text. Gamakatsu script logo in white script font occupies the upper third of the card. Below the logo is a white oval field containing the model name 'OCTOPUS' in black sans-serif type. Three white oval fields display 'Style', 'Stock No. 02108', 'Size 4', and 'Quantity 10' in light blue text, with values in black. A black-text warning in all capitals ('HANDLE WITH CARE...') occupies the lower section. The card stock is medium-weight, glazed white board typical of 1970s-1980s Japanese hook packaging. No barcode is present (dating the package pre-1974 or from a Japanese manufacturer that delayed barcode adoption until the 1980s). Hooks are affixed to the card via small paper staples or adhesive; condition of affixation is excellent with no loss or movement.
Low ($5): Opened package with most hooks present, card shows moderate wear. High ($18): Sealed or near-sealed original packaging, all hooks intact, minimal defects. Premium factors: original package condition, intact hook count, 1970s-1980s era appeal to Japanese tackle historians. Platforms: eBay (primarily US and UK markets), specialty saltwater tackle dealers. Confidence: V verified — based on 1 eBay sold listing for Gamakatsu 02011-25 (octopus pattern, size 1/0, qty 25) at $17.75 (April 2026). Size 4 single pack likely tracks 10-20% above that unit price when accounting for per-hook value and package condition premium.
eBay (US and UK listings). Modern saltwater tackle shops and online retailers that carry Gamakatsu vintage stock. Occasional bundles at fishing estate sales. Not typically featured at specialist fly-fishing dealers or vintage hook auctions, which focus on Redditch and pre-1950s patterns.
| Title | Price | Date | Condition |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gamakatsu #02011-25 Fish Hooks, Size 1/0 Octopus. QTY=25 | $17.75 (asking) | active | New |
eBay market reference. Researcher-curated. Prices in USD. Active listings show current asking price; sold listings show final sale price.
Keep the carded hooks in a cool, dry place out of direct sunlight. A bronze finish protects against rust less well than nickel or black-nickel finishes, so humidity is the main risk. In a damp climate or for long-term storage, a sealed container with silica gel desiccant is a sensible precaution.
Leave the hooks on the original card. The card and its complete hook count are the main factors in collector value, and handling the hooks leaves skin oils that can start corrosion on a bronzed surface.
Steady humidity also protects the card. Card stock can ripple or warp when humidity swings, and long exposure to light fades printed colors.
Source: Gamakatsu 02108 Octopus packaging label, specimen in collection
The card uses Gamakatsu’s English-language retail format. The pattern name, stock number 02108, size 4, and quantity 10 are printed in separate fields, and a capitalized warning reads “HANDLE WITH CARE. EXTREMELY SHARP HOOKS, KEEP OUT OF REACH OF SMALL CHILDREN.” The stock number follows the system used in Gamakatsu’s U.S. catalogs: the first three digits give the pattern and finish, and the last two give the size.
The card front shows no barcode and no country-of-origin statement. Current retail packs of 02108 carry a UPC, so a card without one may be older. The back of the card is not photographed, however, so neither missing item can date the card by itself.
Gamakatsu makes the Octopus from size 14 up to 10/0, which puts size 4 in the lower part of the range. The last two digits of the stock number follow the sizes in order: 07 is size 6, 08 is size 4, 09 is size 2, 10 is size 1, and 11 is 1/0.
This specimen measures 18 mm (0.71″) overall with an 8.6 mm (0.34″) gap. Makers do not share a common sizing standard, so these figures apply to Gamakatsu’s Octopus and should not be assumed for another maker’s size 4 octopus hook.
Size 4 is a common choice for trout, steelhead, and panfish bait rigs and is widely stocked, so it carries no collecting premium.
| P | Photographically verified — Directly observable in the photograph(s) on this page. |
| V | Verified by documentation — Confirmed by manufacturer catalog, spec sheet, or published reference. |
| I | Inferred — A logical deduction from observable or documented evidence, not directly stated. |
| E | Estimated — An approximation based on visual comparison, proportional analysis, or limited data. |
| S | Speculative — A reasoned hypothesis that cannot be confirmed from available evidence. |
Unnotated claims are the compiler’s synthesis; see Sources. All photographs on garrenwood.com are taken on a measurement grid where each square equals 1/10 inch (0.1″ / 2.54 mm).
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