I remember fishing years ago in galveston on the old fishing pier shore side the old man that ran the place said when you catch one of those you slam on the ground with your pole. he said it stuns the fish and keeps him from scriming in your hands.

Just rub it's belly on the puncture and be tough for the next two hours. It's going to swell and hurt like hell. Been there too many times. Good luck.

P.S. It always made me feel better to "sacrafice" the Hardhead in a pain driven rage. Just my two cents.

Pretty much what I was thinking. I almost lost a foot a few years ago from a wound that happened under water, nasty stuff in the water. After getting that infection I really think about what goes into my wounds, fish slime will not be one of them.

I haven't read all the threads, but if you get stuck, immediately after, take some slime off the fish and rub it onto the wound.

for all you good folks that like to catch hardheads, go to conn harbor at port aranses fish anywere off the bank and catch those big babbys 5 lbs and bigger there aways there day or night, rain or shine, hot or cold, just for you guys good fishing fellows bon appatight