First Throat Hooked Bass - What To Do?

[hoosierbass07]

  I went bank fishing for an hour this afternoon and caught two small bass on a four inch plastic worm and 2/0 worm hook.  The first bass was caught in the mouth and quickly released.  The second one was throat hook and this was my first ever throat hook bass.  I had trouble with it so ended up cutting the line, taking the worm out, and pushing the hook down the throat a little, and letting it back into the water.  I tried to get the hook out but I did not know how.  

 

 So who do you guys and gals get a hook out of a throat of a smaller sized bass?  Is this common and does this go with the territory of bass fishing?  

 

 Thanks 

[00 mod]

 

 

Jeff

[.ghoti.]

Like it or not, fishing is a blood sport. You're gonna kill a few. Get used to it. And eat the ones you kill, when legal.

[HeavyFisher]

I haven't throat hooked a bass in years. But when I have in the past I would take my knife and separate its skull from it's spine in one quick motion(you don't have to cut that deep), gut it, then either make a small fire and cook it on the spot or if there are any birds around give it to them.

[hoosierbass07]

  Yeah, I figured throat hooking is part of the sport.  Thankfully most of the bass I catch are mouth hooked and I catch and release.  If I get another one throat hooked I'll be a little more prepared and have a game plan on getting it out.  

 What happens if a bass dies in the water?  Do other fish or water animals eat it?  

[gulfcaptain]

Wow, I've throat hooked fish dropshotting, a couple with a worm.  Cut the line and let them go and let them live to fight another day.  Also have caught bass that have hooks in them as well that were doing just fine.  If you don't injure them too bad you can let them go and they will live.  Or you can eat them....Hopefully if you feed one to the birds you don't leave the hook in the fish.   

[EvanT123]

I would try the technique 00mod linked to. It might take a try or to but it works and I've found it effective. If I bass dies in the water if would probably eventually be picked on by scavengers and decompose back into the earth. You could be helping future generations in oil creation lol.

[FD.]

On 4/21/2014 at 4:28 PM, 00 mod said:

 

 

Jeff

 

 

I take a lot of noobs fishing and wind up with a lot of gut hooked fish on my boat every year.  I have not lost a fish since I started using this technique to remove them.  Learn it and teach it.

[michang5]

I take a lot of noobs fishing and wind up with a lot of gut hooked fish on my boat every year. I have not lost a fish since I started using this technique to remove them. Learn it and teach it.

x2. Learn this. Once you get it down, tell others. I started bass fishing July of last year. Gut hooked and killed a few fish in September. Learned this technique from the fine folks here. Haven't lost one since.

I find it hard to remove the hook with needle-nosed pliers. I had a pair of forceps that worked pretty well. Lost those and got the BPS hook remover. Works great.

[KaoTiK405]

Sometimes trying to remove it is worse than leaving it there. I try to clip as much of the hook off as I can reach and leave the rest to rust away or work itself free. As long as the fish can still eat it will be just fine.

[J BASS]

Remove what you can and release the fish into a treated live well then release the fish later....Or remove when what you can then release the fish back to the lake..

[geo g]

I use the technique also and do very well with little effect on the fish. If you fish you will occassionally gut hook a fish and occassionally have a fish bleed a little. The goal is not to gut hook them in the first place. So pay attention to what your doing and set the hook without long delays. The ones gut hooked are not lost causes, so use the technique and save as many as possible. It is a skill you must master, just like any other skill. Good luck and watch the video.

[blongfishing]

Go to YouTube and search LakeForkGuy. He had a new vid up about that.

[hoosierbass07]

  Does smashing the barb down on the hook help get throat hooks out?  

[fish365]

I seldom use a regular worm hook. Use mostly EWG 4/0 or larger hook. 

[CDMeyer]

Yes you are exactly right, this comes with the territory of bass fishing, I will always use a pliers and hold the mouth open (they are not called largemouth for nothing) so reach the plires down and punch the hook down, then pull it our slowly careful not to jam it in another area..... be careful and slow, bass can last quite a long time out of the water, now that does not mean turn this into a twenty minute operation, but it is better to take a little longer than to just rip the hook out, the bass will for sure die that way..... just stay calm and relax yourself and the bass 

[Loop_Dad]

  Does smashing the barb down on the hook help get throat hooks out?  

 

Absolutly yes.

[Salamander12]

but it is better to take a little longer than to just rip the hook out, the bass will for sure die that way..... just stay calm and relax yourself and the bass

I've seen a few guys just rip the hook out and the fish would swim away with a lot of life. So after ripping the gut hook out it dosnt immediately effect the fish but they will eventually die everytime?

[5 Dollar Fishing Game]

They don't always die, but it is still a ton of trauma to them. Each situation is different. I've gut hooked off a drop shot and pulled some "guts" out with the hook and had to push it back in. Fish swam fine. Then, I had a simple guy hook and it bled profusely. Each case is different. Just remember to take it slow and concentrate in what you're doing. If the fish doesn't look like it's going to make it, properly euthanize with a swift rear skull / spine separation with a sharp fishing knife. Go ahead and eat this one or chum it for the others. Don't ever waste a fish. I always try to keep the bass to swim another day, however if the situation arises that it has to be done, I do it and make sure the fish is well used for food by people or other fish.

Joe

[Big Texan]

I used to carry side cutters and force the end and barb of the hook out then cut it off and release the fish. Now I mash the bard down smooth, never lose any and it actually makes hooking the fish easier. I don't de barb Jigs or lure hooks just worm or plastic hooks.

[BigMoneyGrip]

I smash the barb on all of my single hook stuff. I makes it easier on me and the fish. Since starting this, I haven't noticed losing any more fish.

[Steveo-1969]

I've never seen or heard of this technique to go through the gills to remove the hook.  I'm not going to say I'm excited to use it (because I hope I don't have to), but I'm going to give it a try if I have one throat-hooked.  I've always cut the line and left the hook in the fish.  And wondered if I slowly killed it.  Thanks for the post!

[The Fisher]

I come through the gills with needle nose pliers. Works very well. In probably 95% of the time I've had no blood or tissue come loose. Don't rip the hook rather gently twist it or rotate it out of the throat tissue. Then once it is loose it pops right out the mouth.

Here is a video showing how this works from the Texas Parks and Wildlife.

[Creekcrappie]

 It kills me when I gut hook one and kill it and it it and inch short or less to keep.

[einscodek]

This is why you carry long pliers with you when fishing so you dont have to rip it out of them.. if they aren't going to survive it then it needs to come home for dinner.. yuk