The hook you buy may very well be the story as to if you caught or lost the fish. It is important to undstand how hooks works and how to properly apply them when out fishing.
Circle hooks have been around for decades, some say even centuries. Commerical fisherman all over the world have caught millions of fish using them. So why would anglers still prefer a "J Hook"?
When using a cirlce hook you have a much better chance at catching the fish as the hook is usually in the corner of the mouth of the fish - by design.
The hooks are designed to find an edge in the mouth of the fish and lodge perfectly as the fish eats the bait and swims away from you.
This drastically improves your hook up ratio over a j hook. Maybe its not as fun as setting the hooking a big bass, but you will catch more fish and release them in a healthier state.
In the following video, I demonostate how a circle hook actually works using a 5 gallon bucket and a 7/0 Mustad Circle Hook.