Garren WoodFishing Hook Reference
The Gamakatsu 02310 Octopus Hook is a modern Japanese bait hook designed for saltwater and general bait fishing applications. Model 02310 represents Gamakatsu’s international commercial product line, featuring a distinctive compact octopus bend optimized for live or cut bait presentation.
The hook is characterized by its short shank, standard round wire gauge, and vibrant red synthetic epoxy coating. The turned-up tapered eye provides secure line attachment, while the hollow-point geometry ensures reliable penetration in soft mouths typical of salt-water species and bottom-feeding finfish.
Gamakatsu began exporting this model globally in the early 2000s, and it remains in continuous production today. The 02310 is available in multiple sizes (ranging from size 4/0 down to size 1) and packaging quantities, making it a utility hook in modern commercial tackle. The model is collected primarily by functional anglers rather than vintage hook specialists, though early examples and uncommon sizes have modest historical interest within Gamakatsu production documentation.
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The octopus bend is a specialized configuration optimized for bait fishing. The sharp curve and compact shank allow maximum gap and barb exposure relative to hook length, enabling secure hook-sets in soft mouths of species such as cod, flatfish, and catfish. The hollow-point design combines a concave inner face with a knife-edge outer taper, providing both penetration efficiency and a broader cutting surface during the hook-set.
The round wire profile and standard gauge deliver flexibility for live bait presentations while maintaining tensile strength for saltwater species and bottom-structure interactions. The turned-up tapered eye aligns the line pull vertically with the shank, distributing force evenly along the bend and reducing leverage failures during hard strikes typical of bottom-feeding behaviors.
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.
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Gamakatsu Co., Ltd. is a Japanese fishing tackle manufacturer founded in 1955, headquartered in Hamatanaka, Shizuoka Prefecture. The company began as a small hook manufacturer and expanded into a comprehensive tackle producer by the 1970s. Gamakatsu became known for precision forging and consistent quality control, exporting extensively to North America and Europe beginning in the 1980s.
By the 1990s, Gamakatsu had established itself as a major global supplier of fishing hooks, particularly for saltwater, bait, and terminal tackle applications. The company acquired American hook brands and production facilities, consolidating a significant market share. Today, Gamakatsu operates manufacturing plants in Japan and the USA, serving both retail and commercial fisheries.
The 02310 is a standalone commercial bait hook design with no broader named series. The octopus bend configuration itself has origins in saltwater bait fishing tradition, but the Gamakatsu 02310 is a modern interpretation developed for mass-market distribution. Gamakatsu introduced this model in the early 2000s as part of their value-line commercial offerings. The model remains in continuous production with variations in size, packaging quantity, and finish (red synthetic is standard; other finishes are occasionally offered). The design has not undergone significant revision since introduction.
Modern offset-printed packaging with contemporary safety warnings; offset print method and full-color process indicate post-1980s manufacture. Stock number format (02310) and packaging design consistent with Gamakatsu's modern commercial product lines. No barcode visible in image, but packaging typography and safety language ('KEEP OUT OF REACH OF SMALL CHILDREN') are consistent with 2000s-2010s regulatory standards. Gamakatsu became a major global manufacturer by late 20th century; this model is a current production item.
The round-kendal octopus bend pre-dates Gamakatsu by decades, originating in traditional English and Scottish fishing hook design. Kendal (sometimes spelled Kendel) refers to a round bend with moderate depth and symmetrical profile, historically associated with sea trout and salmon fishing in northern England and Scotland.
The octopus designation itself is a 20th-century American refinement, popularizing the use of wide-gap round bends for large baits in saltwater contexts. Mustad, Pflueger, and American manufacturers had offered octopus-style hooks since the 1920s-1930s, but post-war Japanese manufacturers (Gamakatsu, owner of smaller regional brands) systematized and standardized the design for mass production.
The 02011 Octopus reflects the convergence of: (1) traditional English kendal bend geometry, (2) American octopus-style nomenclature and wide-gap specifications, and (3) modern Japanese manufacturing efficiency and quality control. Comparable contemporary designs include Mustad’s 92553 (Baitholder), Daiichi’s 2380 (Saltwater Bait), and Owner’s 5353 (Gorilla Hook), all serving overlapping saltwater and fresh-bait markets with similar hollow-point, heavy-wire construction.
| Silhouette | Hook Model | Match | Analysis | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
02309 No. 2 — Octopus | 99% | Compare | |
|
02311 No. 1/0 — Octopus | 96% | Compare | |
|
02408 No. 4 — Octopus | 90% | Compare | |
|
03009 No. 2 — Octopus (Barb On Shank) | 87% | Compare | |
|
02011 No. 1/0 — Octopus | 86% | Compare |
| Silhouette | Hook Model | Match | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|
|
02108 No. 4 — Gamakatsu Octopus | 99% | Compare |
|
03008 No. 4 — Octopus (Barb On Shank) | 99% | Compare |
|
02308 No. 4 — Octopus | 96% | Compare |
|
92553 No. Unknown — no size marking visible on hook or packaging label portion shown — Mustad 92553 Beak Hook | 96% | Compare |
|
|
02311 No. 1/0 — Octopus | 95% | Compare |
The Gamakatsu 02011 Octopus is a modern general-purpose bait hook designed primarily for saltwater and freshwater bait fishing. The wide gap (0.47″) and heavy wire (0.029″-0.032″) accommodate substantial baits including live shiners, mullet, herring, and squid — hence the ‘octopus’ designation reflecting its use with octopus and other large saltwater baits. The round-kendal bend and hollow point provide reliable penetration and bite hold in live-bait presentations.
Common applications include: saltwater bottom fishing (grouper, snapper, tarpon), estuary and bay fishing (striped bass, redfish), freshwater catfish and pike fishing, and general livebait rigs. The heavy wire resists bending under heavy loads, and the nickelled finish provides reliable corrosion resistance in brackish and salt environments. Size 1/0 is suitable for medium-sized baits and fish species in the 3-15 lb range.
Saltwater jigging, live-bait trolling, pier and jetty fishing, basket-trap bait hooks
Not applicable — bait hook, not used for fly tying.
| Hook | Match Quality | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Gamakatsu 02310 (current production) | Excellent | This model remains in continuous production; no successor exists. |
Rated 1.5/10 — this is an actively produced, mass-manufactured modern hook with abundant surviving inventory. No genuine scarcity exists; collector demand is essentially zero. Value is purely functional.
What limits this rating: The 02310 remains in continuous production by Gamakatsu, with high manufacturing volumes distributed globally through modern retail and online channels. Unopened original packaging is readily available at near-retail prices. There is no vintage cache, rarity, or historical significance to drive collector interest. This hook is purchased and used for functional fishing, not collecting.
Why minimal collector value applies: Modern hooks lack the design history, manufacturing mystique, or scarcity that characterizes vintage Redditch, Norwegian, or American craft-era hooks. A 50-year-old Gamakatsu hook has no age premium. Condition of packaging is irrelevant because the expectation is that hooks are consumables, not specimens. Loose hooks or bulk lots sell at or below the individual hook cost from bulk manufacturers.
Sales card format. Bright blue offset-printed header card (approximately 4.5" × 3") with white printed label bands. Gamakatsu logo in large stylized script (white on blue). Three information bands in white with printed text: 'Style OCTOPUS' (black text), 'Stock No. 02310' (black text), 'Size 1' (black text), 'Quantity 8' (black text). Below the label bands, white section contains safety warning in black sans-serif type: 'WARNING: HANDLE WITH CARE. EXTREMELY SHARP HOOKS. KEEP OUT OF REACH OF SMALL CHILDREN.' Card is offset-printed throughout; no handwritten elements visible. Modern safety-focused design typical of 21st-century tackle packaging.
Low ($3): Loose individual hooks or damaged packaging<br />
High ($50): Bulk purchase (100-count box, wholesale lot)<br />
Premium factors: Bulk quantity (25, 100-count packs command volume discounts); sealed original packaging adds minimal premium<br />
Platforms: eBay, Amazon, direct retailer<br />
Confidence: V Based on 5 eBay sold listing(s), $2.95–$48.88. Note: values scale with quantity per package; per-hook cost is $0.15–$0.50 depending on bulk tier.
eBay (both US and UK listings common), Amazon, modern tackle retailers (bass shops, saltwater suppliers), online fishing retailers worldwide. This hook is actively stocked and can be purchased new at any time.
| Title | Price | Date | Condition |
|---|---|---|---|
| gamakatsu octopus hook size 1 red 25 per value pack 02310-25 versatile hooks | $12.95 (asking) | active | New |
| gamakatsu octopus hook size 1 red 100 per value pack 02310-100 versatile hooks | $39.95 (asking) | active | New |
| 4 packs gamakatsu octopus hook size 1 red 8 per pack 02310 32 total hooks | $13.95 (asking) | active | New |
| gamakatsu octopus hook size 1 red 8 per pack # 02310 trout salmon etc versatile | $2.95 (asking) | active | New |
| 100 Gamakatsu Octopus Size 1 stock # 02310-100 Red Hooks | $48.88 (asking) | active |
eBay market reference. Researcher-curated. Prices in USD. Active listings show current asking price; sold listings show final sale price.
Modern Gamakatsu hooks with synthetic finishes are inherently corrosion-resistant and require minimal special care. Store in a cool, dry environment away from prolonged humidity exposure. The red synthetic epoxy coating will not patina or develop the character finishes that make vintage bronzed or blued hooks collectible — age does not improve appearance.
For active anglers, store hooks in their original packaging or in a dedicated tackle box away from saltwater spray and moisture. Rinse thoroughly with fresh water after saltwater use to prevent salt crystallization. The synthetic finish is durable but can be scratched or chipped if struck against hard surfaces; careful handling extends aesthetic life even though the functional integrity remains high.
Original packaging has minimal collectible value and is typically discarded by users. Retain it only if the hook is being kept as a reference specimen or documentary example. Loose hooks in bulk storage are the norm for this model.
Source: Gamakatsu 02310 sales card packaging, front label and warning text
The 02310 card features a prominent safety warning: ‘WARNING: HANDLE WITH CARE. EXTREMELY SHARP HOOKS. KEEP OUT OF REACH OF SMALL CHILDREN.’ This language is characteristic of post-2000 tackle packaging and reflects evolving product liability and consumer protection standards in North America and Europe. The phrase ‘KEEP OUT OF REACH OF SMALL CHILDREN’ is specifically aligned with US consumer product regulations and child safety initiatives that became standard in fishing tackle marketing during the 2000s-2010s.
The stock number ‘02310’ is a proprietary Gamakatsu product code. Gamakatsu has maintained consistent model numbering across their international commercial lines; the 02310 has remained stable since introduction, indicating a core product with sustained market demand. The packaging emphasizes ‘versatile hooks,’ positioning the octopus bend as suitable for multiple species and applications rather than a specialized design — a marketing approach common to value-line bait hooks aimed at casual anglers and commercial fisheries.
| 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. |
Claims with no notation are confirmed by multiple independent 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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