A new bedding season is upon us as well as the start of many tournament trails. A few friends and I got together last night and the conversation somehow turned to foul hooked fish, in particular bedding fish. Throughout the years I have heard of many people who had become very good at snagging fish off of beds and even knew a few of them. Tournament rules across the country seem to vary as to the acceptability of the practice of foul hooked fish within the individual trails. Anybody have any opinions on weather or not foul hooked fish should or should not be allowed at weigh in's?

Keep in mind I'm not suggesting that all foul hooked fish are snagged.

I dont know of any trails that would allow the snagging of fish. And hope that none would. Regarding bedding fish or purposely foul hooking.

I don't either, but there are those that allow foul hooked fish. Which is the basis for the inquiry.

Snagging is illegal. All tourney's rules state the laws of the state must be followed. Pretty simple.

it should never be allowed. If you cant catch the fish in a gaming manner than you should move on to a different bed.

if your going to snag it wouldn't it just be easier to carry a shotgun and shoot it!

Snagging a bedded fish is not just wrong but also a act against our sport.with that said I do have a problem with tourneys that don't allow a fish you have caught on a hard bait just outside the mouth.those fish stuck the bait.just my thought on this

snagging a fish on a crankbait or trap accidentally is one thing, but to intentionally snag one from a bed or even just cruising is definitely a disqualification to me.

In Texas if a bedfish is foul hooked intentionally or otherwise. It is deemed illegal and must be returned.

Snagging fish is un American !

Finally caught a big cruiser we were fishing for and realized I had her on the outside of the mouth when we got her in the boat. Close to 5lb fish that we had to release and it cost us a check.
Such is life.