Small Bass Torture?

[South FLA]

Lately, I have catching plenty of dinks, but it my heart sinks after seeing my hooks end up somewhere other than the outer edge of the mouth.  

For example, I was using a Skitter Pop and I caught 5/6 of about 20 total fish that day that ended up getting hooked in the eye and not just the flesh around the eye.  I also sometimes drive a single hooks, like an EWG or Straight Shank, through the roof mouth into the eye socket, draining it from behind  .  Lastly, last night I went out Spro fishing and caught 8 bass 2 of them ended up getting the thick hooks entangled in the gill rakers and bleeding pretty badly.

I have not been keeping track of it like a scientist, but I figure 10 to 20% of all "smaller" Bass I catch have been injured by the hook in some way.  Most of the fish that get foul hooked smaller than 15", but has anyone noticed that dinks are more prone to being hurt by hooks?

[Avalonjohn44]

Something will eat it and benefit from it...  And the smarter ones will not strike your bait and the species will be better served overall.  I wouldn't worry about it too much.

[JuniorFisherJJ08]

if your catching that many dinks it sounds like you have an over population. Now i care fo every fish i catch and try my hardest to make sure they survive. Dont get to down on urself, because it happens. As the above post said another fish will eat  it. Just make sure you do what you can to save the ones you can!

JJ

[simplejoe]

Get yourself some Please Release me product from Sure Life. Next time you hook'em bad just get it out and rub it on. Keep it away from the eyes. Please Release me stops the bleeding and helps build the slime coat back up, among other things.

http://www.sure-life.com/pro_please_release_me.html

                                           joe

[Raul]

but has anyone noticed that dinks are more prone to being hurt by hooks?

They have a smaller oral cavity, everything is closer, no wonder why they get hurt a lot more than bigger fish with larger oral cavity.

[SoFl-native]

Aww man the dreaded eye hook. I hate those.

Happend to me on Sunday with a buzzbait of all things. I performed minor surgery. I think he was 20:20.

[WRB]

Rarely do adult bass mix with juvenile "dink" bass. If you are catching bass under 12", you are more than likely fishing an area that the smaller bass schooled. Keep in mind that bass tend to school by size; juveniles 6" to 12" are basically less than 2 years old and stay together for both safety and feeding.

Larger bass live in the world of pecking order; the biggest most aggressive eat first at the best places. That doesn't mean a big bass won't be in the area, they could be close by and feeding on the smaller bass or a different prey source the dinks can't eat. Usually the larger bass are deeper, so change lures, slow down and fish deeper or move away from the dinks.

WRB

[HAMMER23]

I would think this would almost be a certanty. It just makes sense the distance between the mouth opening and the eye is absolutely closer together on smaller fish. If you happen to be on smaller fish I am sure u could decrease those chances by using a hook with a smaller gap. Give it a shot and see if you notice a difference.

[avid]

I agree with WRB. I think if you find yourself catching several dinks in a row, you should probably move. OR.....because catching dinkoids is alot more fun than catching nothing, clip off one of the hooks on each of the trebles. That should reduce the number of fish being damaged.

If you catch nothing but small bass, and others you know have the same experience then it is definitely a possibility that the water is overpopulated. A call to fish and wildlife may be useful.  

[J Francho]

You need to find a new spot, or fish that spot with smaller baits, if it bothers you that much.

[SirSnookalot]

I don't get too bent out of shape, if I did I'd join PETA and give up fishing.  I mostly use single hooks so foul hooking is at a minimum.  Bass are abundant and they are a food source for other animals and birds, the fish will not go to waste.

[Crestliner2008]

Pinch down the barbs. On top waters, you may loose a few, but who cares? I guarantee this one action will significantly decrease fish injury. Also, carry a can of Sprite soda with you. If the fish is bleeding, pour it in it's mouth. The soda will close the capillarys and and enable quick healing.