WarwickI put a link reply on Charlies post "Tying Hooks" which related to the relative merits of snelling a hook as opposssed to tying one. On the same page of that link is another link which I now add.
It surely answers the hook question you pose. And it quotes the research and results.
http://www.fishing.sh/htmfiles/hookreports/tyingvssnelling.html
I realise that this source which is NZ Kite Fishing site markets a certain brand of the most successful hook. But TT have similar. I believe that this link is just so informative it needs to be shared.
When you consider that for much of the time our rods are in the rod holder. And as Team Breakaway so aptly states, by the time you feel the bite, the fish has well, long gone. And if you are using a breakout sinker well there ain't no way you can even attempt a strike.
So in essence we surfcasters in effect have a one hook long line set.
So the choice of hook in that situation is quite apparent. ( And The Snell of course). I now Snell all my hooks. But everybody to what they feel comfortable with. I used to jerk away in the ole days, but they were long shanked J hooks then. How times have changed.
Cheers Trev