Bob Posted June 29, 2007 Posted June 29, 2007 More questions from a newbie... I gill-hooked a fish with a Rapala treble hook today, and it took some not-so-delicate maneuvering to get the hooks out. I know I took a little flesh(?) off the gills, and it was oozing blood. I released it, and it swam away pretty well, so I'm hopeful that it survived. My question(s) are: How bad is it when a fish starts bleeding like that? Is it a death sentence for the fish? What are it's chances for surviving? Maybe this is just a dumb question, but I'm curious--do fish have a clotting factor in their blood? If a fish is bleeding badly, should I just euthanize it? What do you do if it doesn't swim away? I'm pretty sure it would not last very long where I live--birds or gators will have their way in no time... I'd been taking the barbs off of circle hooks and using plastics, and even though I still gut-hooked a few, I was usually able to get the hook out without causing any bleeding. I tried a few Rapala lures, and caught fish with them, but should I take the barbs off of the treble hooks? They seem like really good hooks, and I don't want to ruin them. It's not like it's the end of the world or anything for me if the fish dies. I love catching them, but I don't like injuring them at all. Goes with the territory, I guess.
Super User Hookemdown. Posted June 29, 2007 Super User Posted June 29, 2007 We've all gut hooked a fish. When they are bleeding like that, most of the time they will die after you release them. When I get a bleeder, I usually harvest the fish.
Bob Posted June 29, 2007 Author Posted June 29, 2007 I can't take them--it's CNR only fishing, and they're "golf course lake" fish--probably loaded with chemical pesticides and/or fertilizers, and not that good to eat even if they could be taken.
hamer08 Posted June 29, 2007 Posted June 29, 2007 I usually do the same thing I'd do if I lip hooked them. Most of the time, I C & R and only harvest occasionally when I feel like dealing with cleaning them. I the fish is injured, I'll still release them. I figure he can feed the muskies, catfish, bald eagles, etc,... maybe even a 20 lb LM.
Super User Hookemdown. Posted June 29, 2007 Super User Posted June 29, 2007 Well, if the law is C n R.... try your best to keep the damage at a minimum and realease the fish. Even though at times killing the fish might me the more humane thing to do, the law is the law.
surfer Posted June 29, 2007 Posted June 29, 2007 Have you tried cutting the hook as far down as you can reach and releasing the bass with a partial hook? There is less damage and he will bleed less. I would rather have half an Indian arrow stuck in my leg than a big hole were the Indian took his arrow back. 1
cpvenom Posted June 29, 2007 Posted June 29, 2007 Fish blood is usually very fast to clot, so that does help them survive a little better. Unless the fish cannot swim away, I will let it go and give it a chance to survive. If I do see it surface soon after, I may keep it depending on the size, otherwise I will let it feed the other animals in the lake.
S3NKO Posted June 29, 2007 Posted June 29, 2007 I always pinch my barbs down with pliers. If I gut hook a fish I follow these steps. 1. Cut your line leaving about 24 inches. 2. Feed the line back into the mouth and out one of the gills. 3. Pull the line out the gill turning the hook around so the point is facing down into the stomach. 4. Reach into the mouth with pliers and pull out the hook while keeping pressure on the line through the gills. The hook always comes out. I know some fear losing a monster, but I never keep fish and don't care about losing them. Hook with Barb: Should you be able to pull out enough of the stomach to see the hook and barb, you can pinch the barb down with pliers and then follow the same procedure. If your fishing with friends an extra hand is always helpfull. Chris
Gorgebassman Posted June 29, 2007 Posted June 29, 2007 I just cut the hook and leave it. There was a simular question a while back about this and someone posted a nifty tool for doing it and I went and ordered one and its the cats meow as far as I am concerned get one for yourself its well worth the money for saving the fish. http://www.dbarb.com/
Fish Man Posted June 29, 2007 Posted June 29, 2007 GILL HOOKING IS NOT A DEATH SENTENCE!!!!!! i have a post floating around here somwere about a fish ive caught that had a gill ripped in haklf and it was healed up when i caught it and it definetly wasnt recent from the looks of it,also if ish a small pond and on my longer trips of about 7 hours ive never seen a fish float after ive gill hooked them FYI we usually hit each spot 2-3 times a day so the fish deffinetly doesnt die to fast if at all
Bob Posted June 30, 2007 Author Posted June 30, 2007 Thanks, guys. So it's ok to mess up them nice treble hooks? I haven't had any gut hooks with the Rapalas (I can't see how that would even be possible), but them fish had faces full of treble hooks! It certainly looks....uncomfortable. Aside, I also like fishing the Rapalas better than Senkos because it's more intense when the fish takes the bait. POW! Great fun! 8-) I'm going out now!
Super User T-rig Posted June 30, 2007 Super User Posted June 30, 2007 Most of these fish probably will die but my friend caught this one that had it's lip split (recent injury) and was missing half of it's gill plate which was a old injury and perfectly healed.
BassResource.com Administrator Glenn Posted June 30, 2007 BassResource.com Administrator Posted June 30, 2007 The key is to get them back into the water as fast as possible. Fish blood clots under water faster than in the air. That's how nature designed it.
Guest ncbass24 Posted July 1, 2007 Posted July 1, 2007 I always release gut-hooked fish. If they die, at least it will be food for something else. 1
Fish Man Posted July 1, 2007 Posted July 1, 2007 exactly..if they do die it wont destroy the local polulation and may in fact help,,also there are TONS of herrin and osprey around here that wouldnt mind a free meal here and there,not to mention the catfish
StatosDadRI Posted July 1, 2007 Posted July 1, 2007 Keep a bottle of MT Dew or 7 Up in the boat, pour it rigth down the mouth for a few seconds it will help immeaditaly. This was discussed at ou BASS workshops in Alabama this past Febuary. I have a complete slidshow on it maybe we can get Glenn to host it. We have permission to pass it along to anyone.
StatosDadRI Posted July 1, 2007 Posted July 1, 2007 I'll work on getting it hosted but if you have AIM I can send the file 27.1 meg, mikebvip AIM
Super User T-rig Posted July 1, 2007 Super User Posted July 1, 2007 Mountain Dew and 7 UP are both produced by Pepsi Co. so go figure...
Evan Lip Ripper Posted June 16, 2017 Posted June 16, 2017 On 6/29/2007 at 1:49 PM, S3NKO said: I always pinch my barbs down with pliers. If I gut hook a fish I follow these steps. 1. Cut your line leaving about 24 inches. 2. Feed the line back into the mouth and out one of the gills. 3. Pull the line out the gill turning the hook around so the point is facing down into the stomach. 4. Reach into the mouth with pliers and pull out the hook while keeping pressure on the line through the gills. The hook always comes out. I know some fear losing a monster, but I never keep fish and don't care about losing them. Hook with Barb: Should you be able to pull out enough of the stomach to see the hook and barb, you can pinch the barb down with pliers and then follow the same procedure. If your fishing with friends an extra hand is always helpfull. Chris One time I caught a bass that had a hook in it's gill and I snapped the hook and there wasn't a single drop of blood. I think how my friend removed a hook from the bass's gill was just pushing it out by the barb.
CroakHunter Posted June 16, 2017 Posted June 16, 2017 The citrus acid in the drinks mentioned will help, also if you are a Coca-Cola or RC fan you can use Sprite or Ski
IndianaFinesse Posted June 17, 2017 Posted June 17, 2017 26 minutes ago, CroakHunter said: The citrus acid in the drinks mentioned will help, also if you are a Coca-Cola or RC fan you can use Sprite or Ski First off, how come this thread was revived after like ten years? And second, you should never pour soda down there throat. The acid can actually burn the operculum. If you want more info and the actual data behind it, here's a link http://www.bigindianabass.com/big_indiana_bass/doing-the-dew-to-your-bass.html
BassResource.com Administrator Glenn Posted June 17, 2017 BassResource.com Administrator Posted June 17, 2017 Never, ever, EVER use soda on animals. It's very harmful. Use Please Release Me formula on bleeding fish. It's specifically formulated for use on injured fish. Not only does it stop the bleeding, but it also contains anti-bacterials and other helpful elements to help give the fish a fighting a chance. Rant over, and old thread closed. 1
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