Caught a turtle...

[Certified Public Angler]

So I was fishing with a plastic worm and felt a hit, I set the hook and started cranking but this thing was hardly moving.  It took some drag out 2 or 3 different times and I started to get excited thinking I might be fighting a PB.  Well it turned out to be a dadgum soft shell turtle, and a freaking big one at that.  >

I dragged it on shore to try and remove the hook.  I flipped it over so it wouldn't go running everywhere.  Took my pliers out and tried everything to get that hook but all I ended up doing was bending the hook till it was almost straight.  I finally gave up and cut him loose.  :-/

So is it possible that turtles can rust out a hook too?  Or did I just give him a permanent piercing?  Do soft shells have the same jaw strength as normal turtles, should I be extra careful with my fingers?  I had another one go after a bait but luckily I didn't hook him.  It sucks because this pond holds some nice fish, I caught my PB out of it, but there are TONS of these darn turtles.

[Grey Wolf]

You couldn't cut the hook ?

[Certified Public Angler]

do you mean cut off the barb with pliers?  The barb wasn't showing.

[Grey Wolf]

I meant cutting the hook off at the spot it was imbedded in the turtles mouth.

[guitarkid]

Is this the right time to insert the youtube video about the zombie kid?

                  '' I like tutles ''

              -tumnus

[BlakeMolone]

softshell turtles are probaly stronger than most other turtles so be carefull