Hook issue

[slonezp]

Hooks are too good. Problem I'm having is removing the hooks without damaging the fish. Hooks are Strike King Jointed Structure Head rigged with craws or creature baits. I love the set up. Love the hook up ratio. I have to use pliers to remove the hooks on EVERY single fish. Hook always lands in the upper side jaw, often thru the basses eye. Don't have the issue with any other bait. Something I'm doing wrong or is there a less lethal option as far as a weighted swivel head hook? 

[Way north bass guy]

I’ve not used a weighted swivel rig yet, so I can’t say for certain what’s going on, but have you tried setting the hook faster. Maybe it’ll make the hook be not quite so deep in their mouth. Maybe also try crushing the barb down a bit with pliers so it’s easier to back out of their yap ?‍♂️

[papajoe222]

It's the nature of the beast. Because the hook eye is attached to the jig head and not directly to your line, when you set the hook, it is forced to follow whatever direction the jig head pulls it.  Very rarely do I get hooks in the roof of their mouth this way, where as, I almost always hook there or the upper lip with a skirted jig.  About the only thing you can do is change the way you set the hook and that'll take you down a road that's hard to come back from. If your concern is harming the fish, I suggest smashing down the barb on the hook.  I'd venture to say that I land 80% or more of the fish I hook with barbless hooks. Just keep steady pressure on 'em and try to keep 'em from jumping.  Heck, you're gonna release 'em anyway, so it's really not that big of a deal if a couple get unbuttoned prior to you putting eyes on 'em.

[OnthePotomac]

Barbless here for the last 12 years on the tidal Potomac....no lost fish and the deep hooks just turn and lift right out.  Trebles have barbs.  As stated above, just keep the pressure on.