Deeply Hooked Fish

[Avid Angler]

Hi everybody,

I was out bass fishing today and I hooked into a nice four pound bass. The bass had swallowed the hook so bad that if I would have tried to get it out, I know I would have killed the fish. I wanted to release it but wasn't sure it would live. So I ended up keeping it and cleaning it. My question is:

If a fish has swallowed the hook and you want to release it, will it live if you just cut the line above the hook and let it go?

I have heard that fish have enzymes that rust hooks fast, but I have also heard that is false and most deeply hooked fish die, even when you cut the line and let it go.

I hope somebody can set me straight, so I know what to do next time! Thanks!

Avid

[Captain B.R.K]

I would like to know the answer to this one too. I too have deep hooked bass before because I was fishing plastics and wasn't sure there was a fish there until the hook was all the way into it's stomach. NEVER meant to do it, but it happens. I just cut the line about 1-2" above the hook and let the fish go. Just swims away like it didn't have a hook in it's stomach.

I'm interested to know!

[TurnUpTheFishing]

Older hooks use to rust out, but many of the new hooks take much longer than the few weeks most people think, that is even if they do rust out at all.

There was a really informative article in an infisherman several issues ago explaining how a fish has a better chance of survival if you can get the hook out. This doesnt mean tearing the hook out, it goes on the explain the proper technique. I would recomend looking for the article someone else may be able to help (I wasnt able to find the magazine it was in).

If you dont feel comfortable trying to get the hook out and dont want to keep the fish, cut the line leaving enough that several inches comes out of the fish's mouth. I have caught several healthy bass that had a hook in their gut.

[marine_man]

Quote:

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cut the line leaving enough that several inches comes out of the fish's mouth

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What's the reasoning on leaving several inches of line coming out the fish's mouth? I thought one is supposed to clip the line as close to the hook as possible... to avoid further complications from the fishing line (getting tangled in something, etc)...

marine_man

[LEECH21]

I was wondering the same thing???

[gerty]

I also know that a fish can turn things inside out and get hooks out of itself rather easy. This was proven to me when a northern was caught with a rapala and it had all 6 hooks totally inside its mouth. We had it on a stringer because the only way we were going to get the rapala out was by killing the fish and cutting out the lure. Over night (we fished until very late into the morning)it had totally removed the rapala from its mouth and the rapala was hooked into the stringer. I found this really amazing.

I believe the fish will either end up eventually spitting the hook or rusting it away with no problems.

[kevfish]

Older hooks rust faster than newer ones? Never heard that one before? What would cause this? I have caught many of fish with jigs in their mouth where the line was either broke or cut. The fish seemed to be doing fine. Leave one inch, two inches whatever- now one must study how to take a hook out of a fishes mouth- give me a break

[Toad]

Remove the hook if at all possible. Compelling evidence from studies of fish held in captivity continues to show that fish hooks-- whether stainless steel, bronze or nickel-- don't rust out quickly at all, although they occasionally self-expel. In some cases, fish may apparently die before hooks rust out. The American Fisheries Society has published several studies related to this issue, some of which can be found, I believe, on their HSOforum.

The previously mentioned technique for deep hook removal is the absolute answer to this longstanding dilemma. It involves a long-nosed forceps that you slip between the gills. This method really is slick, and it works exceedingly well for safely, cleanly removing gut-hooked fish.

Fish gills are actually fairly resilient structures capable of healing pretty fast. So going through the gills works fine, as it also allows clean access to a deeply burried hook. Simply grasp the shank of the hook close to it's entry point with tissue, then turn and rotate the hook back out (never attempt to pull or "rip out" a hook with brute force). Done right-- which is really quite simple to learn-- this method always yields a healthy release of a deeply-hooked fish; fish that previously might've died later, or slowly over time because of an impaired feeding ability.

It's really something every angler should know and practice.

-a friend called Toad

[Duffman]

I've had to use this method twice this year already, and it works great. Instead of using a needlenose through the gills, I left about 8" of line attached to the hook and then fed the line through the gills, then I pull the line towards the tail of the fish, I then can access the bend of the hook with a needlenose through the mouth. Wolah! The hook pops out easily with minimal damage. This method has saved some bass that I've hooked the last couple of years that probably wouldn't have made it otherwise. A must-know technique for those who use soft plastics or bait for bass.

[Tonka Boy]

It really works slick. That In-fish article was a worth while read. It should be posted somewhere on here for all to read!

[TurnUpTheFishing]

Quote:

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What's the reasoning on leaving several inches of line coming out the fish's mouth?

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It is suppose to make it easier for the fish to swallow. the fish closes its mouth on the line when it swallows, and this supposedly helps to keep the hook from going deeper or blocking its stomach.

Several inches coming through the mouth is not enough to tangle up on anything.

[marine_man]

thanks for the explanation...

marine_man

[Chris Haley]

I caught a walleye on a 3/8 oz jig last fall during a tournament. The fish had inhaled the jig so far I couldn't even see it. I cut the line and thought it added another 3/8 of an oz anyway. When I went to weigh the fish, there in the bottom of my livewell was my jig. They do pretty good on their own.

[Bushwacker]

I had a similar thing happen to me in my last tournament. I had a pike that inhaled a Lindy rig and all that was visible was the eyelet of the hook. The rest was buried down its throat. I cut the line and put the fish in the live well. Two hours later at weigh-in the hook was laying on the bottom of the live well.

[f1sh1nfool]

I caught a 18" smallie on mille lacs this year, The fish had a glow devil, (from ice fishing?) stuck deep down. all three hooks of the treble were buried, I left it in there. The fish appeared to be healthy and fat, it seemed to be doing alright so i didn't want to risk tearing it up.

[Captain B.R.K]

Thanks for the replies everyone. Next time I have a deeply hooked fish I will use the described technique and see if that works.

Interesting read....thanks!

[Avid Angler]

Thanks for the responses everbody! I think I know what to do next time.

Avid

[ccarlson]

Thanks for posting that info, Toad.

I read the article in In-Fish. I'm pretty sure it was the February 2005 issue if anyone wants to look at it.

Remember, this information is from a scientific fish mortality study. Of course there is always going to be a few exceptions or odd things that happen that make people think it's fine to leave the hook in the fish but the scientific data suggests it is best to remove the hook if at all possible rather than leave it to chance.

The thing I hate is when you watch a tv program and the host is endorsing the outdated practice of cutting the line rather than trying to get the hook out of the throat.

ccarlson

[Fireguy]

if fishing with live bait on a lake with a slot limit I would urge everyone to use circle hooks. With the circle hooks you rarely get a gut hooked fish. Most fish are hooked in the corner of the mouth and are easy to release. These hooks work great, many thanks to the salt water fisherman who developed them.

[gvt]

I used the "in-fisherman" method on a few walleyes this past weekend while fishing Mille Lacs. It is incredibly easy! I've also used the method on throat-hooked bass. Based on my experience, I would say that it is much better than leaving the hook in the fish. The hooks really do come out very easily. Give it try!!

[Oldtyme]

Wow. I'd like to thank FM & whoever posted about that whole "go through the gill" technique. It WORKS!!

Today at the lake I caught a smaller bass, while he didn't swallow the hook the barbed end was starting down the throat & would of took a couple good pulls "the old fashioned way" to get the hook out & more than likely hurt the fish.

I grabbed my hemostats, went through the gill & starting pulling the line out, the hook turned, popped out & I just pulled the hook out through from the gill area.

Once I got the line started through the gill it just popped right out on it's own. SIMPLE!

This thread needs to be stickied to the top. A must read for everyone.

Thanks again. (also the fishie out there swimming tonight because of this thanks you too)

[Big Julie]

I have used a similar technique for years.

The way I have done it is to gently pull on the line if the hook is not visible, then go thru the gills to grab the hook with one of the thin hemostats and turn it basicly inside out.

The hook has virtually always popped right out.

If I am alone, and the fish has it totally swallowed, it is a little difficult. I have used a spreader to keep the jaws separated and hold the line with the same hand until I can see the hook, and then grab the hook; turning it inside out.

I think removing the hook is much better than cutting the line and leaving the hook.

With sunnies, it is tough. Usually will somehow break the line in the process and need to retie. Oh well. At least the hook is out with minimal damage to the fish.

[hanson]

I wish someone would have showed me the 'Through the gill' trick years ago.

I just learned it Thursday and really put it into practice on Saturday. 6 Sheepshead in a row swallowed the hook pretty deep, just the eye sticking out. Through the gill, pull the eye down to rotate the hook, and either push or reach back through the mouth and grab the bend of the hook and it pops right out!

Amazing!! It is SO simple also.

Thanks guys & Thank you In-Fisherman for the article!

[Captain B.R.K]

Sheephead Hanson........I thought you were a better fisherman than that

[hanson]

Well B.R.K., this may sound odd but I was fishing for Goldeyes and couldn't keep the Sheepshead off my hook.

Us cat guys do things a little different ya know.