4Th Fish Ever Caught = Tons Of Questions

[UncleMo]

I'm not sure if I should tell you about this experience I just had or jump into the questions I have.

As you will be able to tell very quickly by my post count (0), and by the subject line, I am new to fishing and am halfway ready to quit. Halfway. Here are my questions:

1. Do fish have feelings? The Nirvana song, Something In The Way comes to mind when the songwriter sings: "it's ok to eat fish, cause they don't have feelings".

2. Have you ever had it happen where you were fishing and a fish took your bait AND hook?

3. Has anyone ever found out what happens to a fish (any fish) when they take your bait and hook?

4. Have you ever been fishing, caught a fish, reeled it in, and could not get the hook out of its mouth? What happened to the fish, assuming your intent was to catch and release?

5. Be objective with this question like I'm trying to be: Is there anything wrong with fishing to where you fish for the fun of it? I know in modern times, people aren't going to fish for sustenance, so is it wrong (by anyone's standards that you know of) to fish for the sport of just fishing alone, while practicing catch and release?

6. What is animal cruelty, is there a universal definition, and even if there isn't, have you ever been accused of animal cruelty for simply having a nice time fishing while practicing catch and release? What were the reasons behind the person(s) claim that what fishing, while practicing catch and release, is animal cruelty?

7. How much time do you have from reeling the fish out of the water until you have to release it so that it can live, and not die while being out of the water? Does it differe from fish to fish?

8. What happened to me: I caught 3 bass in one day. This was fall of 2011. As I reeled these suckers in, I allowed them to get away because I was too chicken (I mean, unaccilmated) to taking them off the hook. Just the other day, I was with someone who caught a fish and I saw how to take a bass of the hook, and assisted while I performed my first "take off" for lack of a better term, and released the same fish into the water. The day after, while still being very new to this, I caught a bass, about a foot long, using a hook and a lizard bait, and reeled the sucker in. This was my 4th fish ever. After getting both video and pictures, I could not get a hook out of the fishes mouth. I then put the fish into the water so it wouldn't die on me, and was hoping he could yank himself free. After waiting a minute (estimate), I reeled him out again and attempted to do it again, and I'd tell you why I couldn't get the hook out but I'd have to explain where it was and why. All I can tell you is that looking that fish eye to eye, thinking about hurrying to keep him alive, and yanking/pulling/tugging in both directions to get the hook out made me feel horrible for the bass fish. This was a sucky day fishing. The ironic thing is that I'm not the type to care. I'd be the first one to say something stupid and quick like: grow up, be a man, or THEN QUIT FISHING AND SHUT UP. Which is what I'm expecting why sharing this story and my questions. If however, you feel you can address the questions above, I'd be grateful for any helpful replies. Thanks, UncleMo.

[clayton86]

well first welcome to the site. You might get some harsh responses but don't take it to heart its a good group of guys here and we'll get ya all the know how you need.

As far as fish having feelings im sure they do but don't let that stop you from getting your hook out. Yes some times you will gut hook them but that's just part of the game the more you fish and the better you get you will detect the bites sooner limiting to how many you gut hook. if your fishing with lures gut hooking goes down anyways they will usually throw the hook before they decide to really eat it.

Fishing for the fun of it hell no there's nothing wrong with it I think you will find that's why 99% of us here do it is for the sport of it and how its fun i doubt you will ever hear a fisherman say "d**n i hate fishing but some ones gotta do it" there's nothing wrong with fishing for sport its not like hunting for the sport of just to kill. The fish are still alive after your done id say 100% the time but there is the occasional one that will die. I'v caught thousands of fish in my life im only 25 I can count the fish that have died from a foul hook probably using just my fingers heck probably one hand.

Keeping fish outta water you kinda gotta be the judge of I try to make it as quick as possible but 30 seconds a minute 2 minutes probably isn't gonna hurt the fish if your in doubt well still lipping it hold it in the water let it get some oxygen over its gills and start over or you can even do hook removal in the water get your hands wet. Don't be afraid to use some oomph to get a hook out watch some you tube video you would swear they just punched the thing in the head all they did was pop a big heavy gauge hook out.

Don't give up though fishing is a blast

[UncleMo]

Follow up questions: What do these phrases mean:

"gut hook"

"throw the hook"

lastly, you guessed 25 was your count, and probably from just using your fingers. All I was using was my fingers because that was how I was taught. Did I cause this problem by using my fingers?

Help me do a better, more responsible job, please. Thanks in advance.

[clayton86]

Follow up questions: What do these phrases mean:

"gut hook"

"throw the hook"

lastly, you guessed 25 was your count, and probably from just using your fingers. All I was using was my fingers because that was how I was taught. Did I cause this problem by using my fingers?

Help me do a better, more responsible job, please. Thanks in advance.

I was saying that was my age im 25 and can probably count the fish iv killed on one hand maybe 2.

Get your self some pliers also needle nose iv found to work best I like gerbers because they have a knife and wire cutters if i need to cut a hook.

Gut hook is when i fish swallows your bait and u hook them in the guts its next to impossible to get it out there's videos on how to do it i have yet to master it but I don't see it that often.

Throwing the hook is when you set the hook or some times didnt set the hook and your fighting the fish and you loose the fish they usually "threw" the hook shaked it out wrapped ya up or just open there mouth at times

[bassh8er]

I don't think that there is any way to gauge just how long a fish can be out of the water or how much handling a fish can take before it will be fatal. A good practice would be to release the fish as quickly as possile once it is landed. Being afraid to touch the fish or hoping that it will dislodge the hook itself is irresponsible and also ineffective.

Like clayton86, I'm 26 years old and can think of very few fish that have died from me hooking them. Keep in mind that those fish died at the boat and there is no telling how many fish die that you hook from delayed mortality. I can also think of fish that I've caught more than once which is proof that Catch and Release works and not fish can survive once they are caught.

That being said, it is important to take care of the fish and release them as quickly as possible. A pic is ok, but while getting the camera out, leave the fish in the water and wet your hands before you touch it. Do not weigh the fish if possible and do not let the fish go until you've tried to revive it and are comfortable that the fish can swim away on its own.

[Marty]

I've seen advice that you can keep a fish out of water for as long as you can hold your breath, but have no idea if that's valid. I've never been accused of animal cruelty, but then, I've never had a PETA person approach me while I was fishing.

I think I speak for a lot of fishermen when I say that I hate to harm a fish. But I know I will harm some, it's part of fishing, it goes with the territory. Obviously I'm (reluctantly) willing to harm some fish, as much as I hate it, but I'd hate it even more if I didn't fish.

You have to take the bad with the good and in the end we do what we are comfortable with.

[grimlin]

Fishing IS a blood sport plain and simple. If one cannot handle it,I suggest taking up golf or bowling.

Fishing isn't for everyone....plain and simple.

1. Do fish have feelings? The Nirvana song, Something In The Way comes to mind when the songwriter sings: "it's ok to eat fish, cause they don't have feelings". No,they might feel pain,but no feeling.

2. Have you ever had it happen where you were fishing and a fish took your bait AND hook? Yes,it's called a break off. You probably tied a bad knot or had a weak kink in your line.

3. Has anyone ever found out what happens to a fish (any fish) when they take your bait and hook? some survive,some don't.

4. Have you ever been fishing, caught a fish, reeled it in, and could not get the hook out of its mouth? What happened to the fish, assuming your intent was to catch and release? Yes,"gut hooked" this is where your hook is so deep it's almost impossible to remove. This lessen the survival rate. There is a way to remove those deep hooked fish here safely,but even that's tricky and you'll need to gain some experience of doing it.

5. Be objective with this question like I'm trying to be: Is there anything wrong with fishing to where you fish for the fun of it? I know in modern times, people aren't going to fish for sustenance, so is it wrong (by anyone's standards that you know of) to fish for the sport of just fishing alone, while practicing catch and release? Nope,I see nothing wrong with it..assuming you educate yourself in releasing the fish as quickly and carefully as possible.

6. What is animal cruelty, is there a universal definition, and even if there isn't, have you ever been accused of animal cruelty for simply having a nice time fishing while practicing catch and release? What were the reasons behind the person(s) claim that what fishing, while practicing catch and release, is animal cruelty? Some people will say yes, they are just sensitive to all living things. I have another name for them...but I'll refrain from that word and just call them "sensitive people". Catch and keep can also be healthy for a lot of lakes and rivers.You don't want overpopulation to happen either. So in my eyes,Us fishermen are just doing what nature is intended. Afterall we are on top of the food chain.

7. How much time do you have from reeling the fish out of the water until you have to release it so that it can live, and not die while being out of the water? Does it differe from fish to fish? It can differ from fish to fish. but a good rule of thumb is hold your breathe. You want to release the fish as quickly as possible.

[tomustang]

Mo, best advice I can give you with the hook problem is go barbless. Just bend the barb or break it off, as long as you keep the line tight after the hook set you'll have a good result bringing him in and not spending a lot of time trying to get the hook out

[DrNip]

1. No
   
2. No
   
3. Dunno
   
4. Yes I simple cut the line and release. Dunno what happened to the fish after that.
   
5. Nothing wrong with it. I fish for fun and release all fish. I'm one of those weird ones that love to fish but hate the taste of fish.
   
6. A simple Google search will tell you in detail what animal cruelty is incase you don't know. Never been accused of it.
   
7. Dunno exact times of how long a fish can live out of water. I'm sure you have plenty of time to get hook out, take pic and release.
   

In closing I don't think fishing is for you man. Just being honest.

[Jigs 4 Pigs]

On a gut hooked fish, i pull my plastic up the line to get it out of the way. Then I grab the bend of the hook with pliers and go down into the gut. Once you get the hook out, try not to re-hook the fish coming back out of the gut. I've done "surgery" on many bass and this method has worked the best for me.

[Jigs 4 Pigs]

I broke off on this guy, 15 minutes later I got 'em. Double 3/0 gamakatsu ewg's in the throat. Took out both hooks and released.

[200racing]

i dont think fish have much feeling in there mouth. think of how they feed and what they feed on. craw fish,shad and sunfish. craw fish have hard shells. shad have sharp scales along their tails and sunfish are covered in spines. they dont gently nibble on them they thrash their prey with reckless abandon.

ive been hooked twice. did it suck yeah,was it traumatic,no.

i like medical forceps for deep hooked fish.

i have seen this fear of causing any harm in several people i have introduced to fishing

just remember you are the top of the food chain. several animals died just for today meals.modern life has removed just about all of the unpleasantness of that from life.

if you think the fish is going to die take him home and eat him no sense in it going to waste.

[outdoorsman110]

I've only killed 5 bass in my life from mis-handling. I've kept a couple to do a favor to the population, but for the most part, I practice catch and release.

[SirSnookalot]

Time out of the water will vary with the species, carp, catfish and snakeheads for example cab be out of water quite a while without dying, bass, perch, panfish not so long.

Feelings are an emotional response, I doubt fish get emotional, but I believe do feel pain. Ever hook a fish and have it swim towards you, imo that's the fish trying to relieve the pressure from the hook. I catch cuda and I step on these fish for hook removal because I don't want them taking a chunk out of my leg. I stepped too hard one day and this cuda let out with squeal that sounded like a pig. I think they feel pain, but this is a blood sport

[UncleMo]

Thanks everyone. Ill go barbless, which was my problem, coupled together with lack of tools and education.

[hatrix]

Fish can feel it for sure. Ever filet a fish and watch them like wince and start to curl up? There is no doubt in my mind they felt that filet knife.

[esoxangler]

You came to the right conclusion, IMO. Experience will be your best teacher.

[tmier]

I too panicked on deeply hooked fish when learning the carolina rig. I grabbed a new set of wire cutters so I could cut the hooks through the gills.

I've had to pinch the barb on a hookset that pushed the point out of the fish's eye. That was a no brainer. Had to throw that hook away. I can't fish with confidence if the barb is pushed down. Get the right tools and you'll do fine.

[slonezp]

Fish can feel it for sure. Ever filet a fish and watch them like wince and start to curl up? There is no doubt in my mind they felt that filet knife.

A good whack to the head solves that problem. Much easier to fillet a dead fish.

I have heard they do not feel pain in their mouth/jaw area, only pressure. Fish/animals have some pretty amazing healing powers. Humans probably would too if we weren't a bunch of whiners. I have caught multiple fish missing chunks from pike/musky attacks. Plenty of bass with weak and broken jaws from bad catch and release moments. Fish with lampreys attached to them. Fish with tumors or abscess' growing out of them. Fish missing eyes or fins. They have all lived to fight another day. There is a mortality rate to this sport. We as anglers can gain knowledge to reduce the mortality. The other option is the deep fryer.

[Marty]

I've only killed 5 bass in my life from mis-handling.

With the prevalence of delayed mortality, how can you possibly know that?

[clayton86]

A good whack to the head solves that problem. Much easier to fillet a dead fish.

I have heard they do not feel pain in their mouth/jaw area, only pressure. Fish/animals have some pretty amazing healing powers. Humans probably would too if we weren't a bunch of whiners. I have caught multiple fish missing chunks from pike/musky attacks. Plenty of bass with weak and broken jaws from bad catch and release moments. Fish with lampreys attached to them. Fish with tumors or abscess' growing out of them. Fish missing eyes or fins. They have all lived to fight another day. There is a mortality rate to this sport. We as anglers can gain knowledge to reduce the mortality. The other option is the deep fryer.

iv caught and released 2 small mouth in one year 2 different bodies of water that i was amazed they were still alive. One was on a topwater boss rat and this thing was in the shape of a Z like its back was so F.U.B.A.R it swam funny as heck it obviously had to have happened when it was younger probably just a minnow and it was about 17" id say if u took the zig and zag outa its spine. The second had no fin on its back whats that dorsal? but anyways the one that's on its back not there just a series of nubs like 8th of an inch high like the bone never grew or some sicko cut them off like you would a sunny if your using them for bait. this gal was a good fat healthy fish I caught in the spring an easy 3 pushing 4lbs. Plus plenty of one eyed fish iv been catching the same one every year for 4 years now outa a private pond hes gotten pretty big 7# no problem he was like a 4 when we first caught it and my nephews spinner went threw its eye

[NCbassmaster4Life]

1. Do fish have feelings? I wouldn't think they have nerves in or around the mouth.

2. Have you ever had it happen where you were fishing and a fish took your bait AND hook? Yes, nothing you can do but to hope the fish survives.

3. Has anyone ever found out what happens to a fish (any fish) when they take your bait and hook? Some may die depending on the bait and or how the hook is digested,I have caught many bass with hooks still lodged in throat. After quite some time the hook will become coroded and the barb rusts off, I usually use the "U" method of taking the hook out with pliers not pulling.

4. Have you ever been fishing, caught a fish, reeled it in, and could not get the hook out of its mouth?Yes, I try to do the best on cutting out the barb or sharp edge without pulling....I have killed very few but they usually get deep fried.

5. Be objective with this question like I'm trying to be: Is there anything wrong with fishing to where you fish for the fun of it? I know in modern times, people aren't going to fish for sustenance, so is it wrong (by anyone's standards that you know of) to fish for the sport of just fishing alone, while practicing catch and release? Depends on the situation and the person. Fishing to me can be both relaxing and stress-free, other times it can be competitive.

6. What is animal cruelty, is there a universal definition, and even if there isn't, have you ever been accused of animal cruelty for simply having a nice time fishing while practicing catch and release? What were the reasons behind the person(s) claim that what fishing, while practicing catch and release, is animal cruelty? Good ques,?

7. How much time do you have from reeling the fish out of the water until you have to release it so that it can live, and not die while being out of the water? Usually no more than 1-1 and a half min.

[Ratherbfishing]

How long can a fish stay out of water? I think it depends on how long you fought them and stressed them and also on the weather conditions. I don't have any imperical evidence to back this up but I'd lay $ money that a bass caught on a cool rainy day can stay out of the water a lot longer than on a sunny, extremely hot day.

A couple of years a ago I was fishing a pond with scattered lily pads. I knew better but I cast a floating rapala lure using only 6 lb (thin) line. Sure enough, a bass took my bait, wrapped the line around some pads, and broke off. I mourned the loss, learned my lesson, and commenced to fishing. A few minutes later, I saw a bass swimming up to the bank. I noticed it was the one which had broken me off because it still had my lure in it's mouth. About this time, it came to the surface, shook his head vigorously, and tossed the lure only a few feet from the shore where I could easily reach it with my rod. Obviously the fish felt sorry for me and wanted me to have the lure back.

Why do I tell you this story? First, it's because I look for any excuse to tell it. Second, the last sentence of that paragraph is a great example of anthropomorphizing. Fish undoubtedly experience some degree of pain but I do not believe they have the capacity to "understand" or suffer emotionally like (most) humans. They do, to a greater or lesser degree, learn to avoid "unpleasant" experiences but you won't find any bass lying on a therapist's couch crying about how much it scarred them emotionally. Not at the going rate of a good therapist, anyway.

[Bluebasser86]

I read a study somewhere awhile back that fishes mouths feel pressure but not pain. That's why if you're reeling a fish in and let slack into your line they will often swim off slowly because the pressure stopped. I couldn't see something like a crawdad being a very appealing meal if you could feel those pinchers and sharp legs stabbing into their mouth.

I fish purely for fun and rarely keep anything. I see zero problems with fishing for fun as long as you don't mistreat the fish and you do what you can to get the fish back in the water and in good shape. Some fish you catch will die, no mistaking that. However, every fish will die eventually and some of them may not have lived much longer anyways. Who's to say a big flathead was sneaking down the log you just caught that 5 pounder off of and you pulled it away from danger?

[Bair]

Advice for the hook you can't get out, a pair of good pliers goes a long way. Just don't drop them in the water, I learned that the hard way.