I do my best to get the hook out of deeply hooked bass but occasionally have to cut them off. Mostly I take the pliers in through the gills and have success that way. I have heard that leaving a length of line out of the mouth will keep the hook oriented to bother the fish's eating the least. But here's my question: Have you ever caught a bass with someone's hook in its gullet? I have not and therefore think it does no good to cut the hook off, since it will probably die anyway. I would love to hear that leaving the hook in really works.

I left a hook in a fishes gullet saturday night, it swam off, 5 minutes later it was back on the surface dead. It made me feel horrible, but Im not sure what I could have done.

I've caught several with rusty hooks in em and they're still eating. Deep hooked a smallie once and kept em. While cleaning, I opened up the stomach and found a small hook which was as pliable as rubber. I guess their stomach acids slowly softens it so they can pass it

I have caught quite a few fish with hooks in their gullet. Some appear to have been there for awhile and some appeared to be recent.

i have caught a 6 pounder with an owner hook in its throat we got it out and he swam away. i have also caught a fish that was pooping out a hook the way i get out is i cut the hook in half and thread the barbles part out but if the are really bad i just let them go and hope the pass it or sometimes they will form a growth around it

Eat it

set the hook a little quicker? lol.

It all depends for me, if the fish is bleeding, I watch it, and will keep depending on the severity. Otherwise, I cut the line and let them swim off.

Fried Bass, Grilled Bass, Bass Tacos, Bass Soup, Blackened Bass, Bass Sushi. You get the picture.

Have caught several with hooks in the gullet, and some with 3 feet of fishing line still attached to the hook, broke off on someone. So yes the fish does live and some will die, but if you mess with it and get the gills bleeding I guarantee you the fish will die. Some times you can go though the gills and get the hook out, but if you nick the gills it is all over for them.

there is a method of removing a deep hook from a fishes gullet. I have used it numerous time and it works awesome. There has been several posts on this forum with the link to the page with a pictorial instructions. I believe it was at an in-fisherman related site.

This same issue has made me go to barbless hooks, especially with the high water temps which already seem to stress the fish's survival after being caught.

I've caught some recently that had hooks in their gullets and they were still eating - but the hooks had a length of line attached still. In fact, one had line and a big-ole snap swivel attached. Somebody had a fish story to tell

Great article !

Do a search on this method mentioned. It works 95% of the time for me.

Thanks for all the responses. I feel better about leaving the hook in. I had a 5 1/2 that was deep hooked on Hawkins last Friday night and went through the gills to get it out, but this risks keeping the fish out of water too long. From now on I will cut the hook off without hesitation.

Sounds like it wouldn't take you too long to at least TRY to remove the hook first...

Get some solid cutters & cut the hook in half as close as you can.
Works! & no pulling or twisting to hurt the fish more.
Both times the fish was able to spit the rest of the hook
- found it in the bottom onf the livewell

Release to the grease!

I do the same, go to homedepot electric section get some wire dikes,go down the hook to the bend cut as close as you can.I havent lost a fish or a partners fish at weigh in yet.some people with big hands might have a problem.they also work great for cutting trot lines or any thing that gets on your tm or prop shaft

If it is a decent sized fish (3+ lbs) go in through the gills with your fingers. You want to do this to the inside side of the bend in the hook. Take the fishing line with your fingers and pull it through the gills. This will automatically pull the hook to the side. Grasp the eye of the hook with two fingers and push it up. The hook will pop out easier than a normally hooked fish in the mouth. Pull your line back through the gills and the hook will follow. The use of long nose pliers is more difficult than using your fingers IMO.

Once you have done this a couple of times, it is really quick and easy. It will take no longer to complete than most people take to get a pic of their catch and the release.

Smaller fish are more difficult and I haven't quite got the technique down for them so I usually hand them off to Ronnie.

I deep hooked a fish last night during the CABA tourney. I used the method as described above. Had the hook out within 60 seconds and fish in the live well. Put some C&R in with it and released a healthy fish after it was weighed in.

LOL!! I was just about to post "Keeb says: I hand the fish to Ronnie " LOL!!! I use 2 fingers, one to slide down the hook(index finger)and the finger next to it- i slowly curve it into the bend of the hook while pushing the top of the hook in the reverse direction with my index finger- its like you are using the index finger to reverse the hook inside the fishes mouth while the curved finger is pulling at the same time.

bassgambler: Went to Home Depot. Got dikes. Will try next time out, as you suggested. Thanks.

Guys this technique really does work and it doesn't take much time at all. I have done this on a lot bass and it works 99% of the time. You will be amazed how easily the hook comes out!

Great advise, I will try it this weekend.

in my history of keeping bass alive i have seen many cases where bass can expel deep hooks or even pass them along with 16 inch plastics. on the down side i have had many bass in quarantine that were deep hooked but removed and inflamation and fungus soon set in on the gills where touched by human skin after a week or more that led to their demise. just becareful not to touch the gills at all which are equivalent to our lungs and our bacteria doesnt do well with theirs.