Stainless steel hooks offer one advantage – they will not rust. That aside, OWNER’s high carbon steel hooks are lighter and stronger, and are certainly harder and sharper than stainless steel hook. Subjected to long exposure in saltwater, especially when trolled, the soft points of stainless steel hooks become rounded, while points of high carbon steel hooks retain their sharpness, but will eventually corrode. Including RUSTOP, OWNER’s revolutionary product that amazingly prevents high carbon steel hooks and other materials from rusting when exposed to the corrosive effects of saltwater. When wrapped on the shank of your hook, the RUSTOP strip serves as a sacrificial anode that attracts rust while protecting the hook.