How do you guys deal with turtles when you hook them . Especially when they swallow the hook . I'm not a big fan of turtles and am usually pretty pissed off when u catch them cuz it is probably going to be a bad fishing outing .well at least it is for me .

Turtles don't swallow many of my 8 and 10/0 hooks, what hooks are you using? If I catch one it's usually hooked in the neck or for some reason the foot a few times. I just hold them down and unhook them with needle nose pliers. If they swallow it I'd just cut the line. I can tie a new rig faster than messing with a gut hooked turtle.

If they're too bad in the area you might just move to avoid them, but if I'm confident there's fish there I'll fish through the turtles and gar until I get to the cats.

Limited to where I can move so I usually push threw and find some cats but there not great when there's turtles pippin up every where . I've had them swallow my 6/0 circle and my #4 treble . When they swallow the #4 there done it's all lodged in there throat . And I don't know what to do . Somtimes I just cut the line and toss em back and when it's bad I and I know they'll just suffer and die cuz they won't be able to eat or whatever I put em to sleep . Cuz I don't really know what else to do

Cut the line if they swallow it. Unless they are a snapper in places you can legally take them. Those go to the stew pot.

Snapping turtle soup?

I thought I was the soft shells you were supposed to eat ? I don't eat that [censored] but Ya know

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I just cut the line right at the hook.

Except for large soft shell turtles. Those I keep and clean. Pan fry the meat
like you would chicken. Outstanding. Taste and texture like ultimate frog legs.

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I wouldn't be against eating it if someone fixed it for me but I don't see myself making it bymyself lok

X2!

Don't knock what you haven't tried. Snappers are great eating. I was stationed in FL for a couple of years and they eat a lot of them there. Do a google search on the subject, you may learn something.

I usually will try to get the hook out if I can. But if gonna cause more harm than good doing that I'll just cut the line. I try and keep pliers that can cut the hook in half which makes getting the hook out a lot easier.

Fight them to the end gentleman...... He was over 75 lbs

Im not sure about Texas but some states they are protected..... My friends that were with me always give me hell over that one

75 lbs dang that's a monster ... Seen big ones but not that big

75#? Now that's a BBQ! Thanks

My homemade bait has lots and lots and lots of garlic in it. Turtles don't seem to like garlic. I can count on one hand all the turtles I have ever caught on my bait. All of them red ear sliders.