Snagged By The Pectoral Fin - Solutions?

[Valdezy]

Hey everyone! New to the forum. I'll probably make an intro tomorrow after work if I remember. For now I've got a question about an incident that just happened that kinda bothers me a bit.

 

I was out fishing on the lake at my friend's college campus tonight, casting out to see if the bass were any good. I caught a good 3 largemouths a little less than an hour in, and then another bit. Reeled it in, pulled out the front treble at the lip and went to set it back in the water. The bait wouldn't budge so I held up my lamp to take a look and saw that the back treble had set in its pectoral fin. I carefully lifted the fin so I could unhook, but it wouldn't budge. Upon closer inspection, I realized that the hook had set in the fin, and then into the muscle immediately connected to it. The flesh was so thick that I couldn't unsnag the hook. I tried using pliers to pull (then, from the other end, push) the hook out but it was no good. I sucked it up and tried yanking it a bit but no luck.

 

Long story short, after many attempts in and out of water for a good 15 minutes (with pretty much no fight from the fish), he gave me one good thwack with his tail, tore the hook right through his fin, splitting it in horizontal two, and swam off. No bleeding, no awkward swimming, nothing. It was as though he were unimpressed by my lack of dexterity.

 

I've been angling since I could be taught how and I can't say I've ever recalled a time where the hook set in the fin muscle. I've never had to deal with such a tough snag, and I didn't have any tools with me to do precision cutting (though now, I'm glad I didn't). Of course, the simple lesson here is to just be sure not set the hook in too early, but what recommendations does anyone have if this situation comes up again? I hated seeing a good game fish swim away with a torn fin, even though it seemed alright. Is it safe to pull it out of the flesh there with enough force? Should I bring a wire cutter next time so I can break the treble? Any advice is appreciated!

[gulfcaptain]

Being it was dark probably made removing the hook or seeing the angle of entry a bit tougher.  Sound like te fish gave you a chance to remove the hook and well YOU took to long so he just removed it himself.  As long as they get back in the water and swim off strong there shouldn't be an issue.  Sometimes you have to pull a bit harder then you think.  I've caught fish where it looks like an osprey or heron has taken a swipe at them and they got away.  Little beat up but no worse for wear.  So your little hook and torn fin I doubt will be an issue other then you feeling bad.  That's part of crankbait fishing, sometimes they get more then 1 hookpoint in them.  I've had to figure out how a fish has been hooked just to remove the hook.  Doing it in the dark would have been tougher for sure when you have to figure out which point to pull out first.  Carry some pliers and if you're worried that much, well fish with barbless hooks.  Otherwise not much else you can do.

[Matthew2000]

I think the fish will be fine. I would try to jam the barb down the next time if possible. You put him under more stress by keeping out of the water so long.

[Master Bait'r]

He will likely be fine.  Fish are pretty tough, and they're more likely to die from stress than most peripheral trauma like that. 

 

 

In the future, push the hook through if you can, crush the barb with pliers and then try to back it out.  Otherwise, you gotta do what you gotta do. 

[THE BASS WHISPERER]

Eat the  fish !

[mrc.in.wi]

This is why I take one or two home for dinner. Catch and release for good hook ups. Catch and grease for bad hook ups.