Hooks are a very personal thing with most and everyone definately lines up behind certain things. My worst experience was with Gamo's in Canada's Hakai Pass were the tips were completely shot in less than 4 hours on the nickel ones. Forget them in salt water period. Gamo recomended black. They are a very good hook. I also used them in bronze as I feel they are a little stickier than the black and hold a point just as well. However this past fall I started using the Owner Cutting Point in black and was very impressed. They can be reused if you don't leave them in a bag to rust and for the exteme price you better be washing them off and reusing them. Grew up using Mustad stainless with a super sharp filed or hoaned tip but those hooks will never rust out of a fish if he breaks off, the barbs were pretty large even when smashed down and the eye has too sharp of end that will cut your leader off given the right angle. A very fancy 25 pound Spring feel victim the the Owner's Sunday on the big C. using cut plug. That's my 2 cents