I use this rig, and never disappointed me. It's a high aggressivity hook, yes is small because is number 8 hook. The gape is quite generous.

The GAPE has nothing to do with the size of the hook but the angle between the point and the angle the line exits the eye ! But if it works for you, fair play.

When you say GAPE, do you mean opening the hook or something else? Because in my country when we speak about GAPE, meaning we refeare at the hook opening.