unhooking fish

[frogfisher]

sometimes I hook a fish right in the side of the mouth where it is really hard to get out and I try and try and try but it just doesnt come out. I dont want to hurt the fish or remove the protective slime and I heard that it is better to leave the hook in because fish develops acids that can dissolve hooks so every once in a while i have to cut the line and leave it in but I feel bad when I do because he might not eat for a while becasue of it, possibly making it sick or something but are there ways to solve htis or should I just stick to what I'm doing? By the way its not a whole lure I'm leaving in, just a hook I put in my soft-plastics

[bothomas]

you just need more practice. catch more fish. haha. seriously, if the hook is in the mouth and not down it's throat then you need to get the hook out. If your having trouble, realize you can be as rough as you need to. You were pretty rough when you set the hook, so get the hook back out..... If the hook is swallowed don't even bother just cut the line and hope him the best.

[Jim80]

Originally Posted by bothomas

you just need more practice. catch more fish. haha. seriously, if the hook is in the mouth and not down it's throat then you need to get the hook out. If your having trouble, realize you can be as rough as you need to. You were pretty rough when you set the hook, so get the hook back out..... If the hook is swallowed don't even bother just cut the line and hope him the best.

could not have said it better my self

[frogfisher]

Okay but it only happens when the fish gets hooked in this one spot... anywhere else and im fine. Its wherre their two "lips" connect.... the area is more tough than the rest of the mouth. I gues its just me and I have to get more practice.. man i lost the last of my good hooks that way now i gotta go out and get some more

[bothomas]

like I said.....catch more fish! lol.... just kidding man

[BigBassin144]

If you're going to cut the line and lose the hook anyways, just take pliers and bend the barb of the hook down. I've done that numerous times to catfish. The hook should then slide right out. Once in a while you can unbend the barb, but most of the time not. (in my experience anyways) You'll still most likely lose the hook and have to rety, but you'll save the fish from anything that affects it when it has a hook in its mouth like that.

BB

[Fishnngolfn]

If you can reach the barb, you can also try cutting the hook at that point. You lose the hook but save the fish.

[pignjig]

Just cut the line and pull the hook out "backwards" (bend first). You'll meet a little resistance at the eye, but you saved a hook and the fish should be fine.

[jooleyen]

Just grab as close to the point as you can, and yank the damn thing out! You'll probably be doing it better just taking it out than leaving it in; unless it's hooked in the throat.

[Fishnngolfn]

Just keep the dang fish and eat it.

[islandbass]

Are you using pliers? They can make short work of removing hooks, or better yet a hook remover.

[MrPhotographer06]

i have found that most of my hooks have been in that area of the mouth .. and it takes a sec. to get out but if you cant just back it out that area seems to with me make a little hole in the lip and just make a hole in it big enough to back it out.. easy

[3dkicker]

Originally Posted by islandbass

Are you using pliers? They can make short work of removing hooks, or better yet a hook remover.

Got to agree. Grab the hook at the bend and pop it out.

[brushhog]

Ditto 3d... Good pliers and some elbow grease get any thing in the mouth area out. If it's swallowed it's a different story...

[pignjig]

If you have a large fish and are struggling to pull the hook out, that puts a lot of pressure on the fish's lower jaw. They have two bones that connect right were we hold them. If we use that jaw grip as leverage to pull the hook out, even with pliers, that can either dislocate their jaws or separate the bones forming the jaws. I'm not trying to grand stand or lecture- I think it's great that we're trying to do right by the fish by even discussing this topic.

[Twinsprtsfan]

Originally Posted by brushhog

Ditto 3d... Good pliers and some elbow grease get any thing in the mouth area out. If it's swallowed it's a different story...

Exactly, grab some pliers. That area you are talking about is a tough area to get hooks out, especially treble hooks. But grab the pliers and move the hooks back and forth or try pulling at different angles and they will come out.

[Fishnngolfn]

If the fish could talk, he would tell you how the last guy did it.

[brushhog]

Originally Posted by pignjig

If you have a large fish and are struggling to pull the hook out, that puts a lot of pressure on the fish's lower jaw. They have two bones that connect right were we hold them. If we use that jaw grip as leverage to pull the hook out, even with pliers, that can either dislocate their jaws or separate the bones forming the jaws. I'm not trying to grand stand or lecture- I think it's great that we're trying to do right by the fish by even discussing this topic.

Great point, the whole point of catch and release is to return healthy fish to be caught again (bigger).. I always cringe when I see someone dangling a big fish by his lip. Get your thumb in the mouth and hand under the lip and if you are struggling with the hook, grab a handful of belly.

[Fishnngolfn]

I never catch any fish big enough to have to use 2 hands. Sigh.

[tnfisherman]

i seen a small mouth i bet would have went 4lbs on top of the water swimming around belly up, some one ethier hooked him deep or got the air bladder messed up ,

[frogfisher]

man that sucks.....coulda eventually been a monster smallmouth

[brushhog]

Originally Posted by Fishnngolfn

I never catch any fish big enough to have to use 2 hands. Sigh.

You will... That new pontoon is gonna put you on the big 'uns! I'm picturing you gettin' towed around in that pontoon by a 5+ pounder

[tnfisherman]

man i know that sucks because where it was a floating was our best small mouth spot