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Author:
usnavybro
Date:
Jun 29, 2011
Subject:
Gut Hook Dilemma
Message:
So here's my problem. Today I was out with a friend who's fairly new to fishing. He hadn't cought anything all day. I had a bite, set the hook, felt it was a big fish and handed the rod off to him. During the handoff the line snapped. I retied with a different lure and about 5 minutes later I had another one. It didn't feel big so I didn't hand it off. When it got to the boat it was bigger than expected. When I went to unhook it I saw the very end of my offset shank hook and the tip top of my baby brush hog barely sticking out of the gut. It was the fish I lost a couple minutes before! I felt horrible, and still do, that I gut hooked the biggest bass I've cought in a couple years. I thought about keeping the fish, but I decided to let it go anyway. Will this fish survive with a Gammie hook and a baby bush hog in its belly? What would you have done?
Author:
Stratos17
Date:
Jun 29, 2011
Message:
I know how you feel. I think a belly hooked fish is just about the wost thing. None of us want it to happen but it does. Heres what I try to do in that situation. First I cut the line to relieve any pressure Second I remove as much as the soft plastic as possible, usually come right off. I keep a long necked diagonal wire cutter on board and try to remove (cut) as much as the hook out as I can. Hopefully the fish will survive. I think the majority of the gut hooked fish do.
Author:
slim2043
Date:
Jun 29, 2011
Message:
I have caught fish with hooks in them before so I know they can survive but not entirely sure on the percentage and I know ripping the hook out of the gut is a surefire way to kill the fish. What I would do in this situation is do my best to get what I can out without hurting the fish or keeping him out of the water for too long. It's always good to have long pliers hemostat flashlight etc. with you in case this does happen. Also you can pinch down the barbs on your hooks which should make them easier to get out without harming the fish too much. I know you can't always be prepared as you want to be and it sucks to put a fish back when his survival is questionable. I think Bass are a little more resilient than trout when gut-hooked though as I read that upwards of 75% of gut-hooked trout do not survive more than 24 hours after released.
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