Date: January 2, 2002
To: PFIC Message Board
From: JeroldBurrow
Subject: Undersized fish that are injured by the hook...
Greetings — I recently hooked an undersized halibut off of the Imperial Beach Pier. The hook went through the fish's head, right between the eyes. I removed the hook as best as I could then released it. It hit the water, then slowly swam off. Not sure if it lived or not. What do you guys do when you hook fish like this? Undersized fish are illeagal to keep regardless of condition, right? Is there anything I can do to help prevent such occurrences? All comments are welcome. Thanks in advance!
Name: stinkyfingers
#1: circle hooks get them in the mouth most of the time.
#2: if you hook 'em bad - cut the line.
#3: don't use stainless hooks, use the bronze ones -they rust easy.
#4: set hook right away on a bite, don't let it run with the bait.
Name: Songslinger
Best thing to do--if you can--is cut the hook with wire cutters. If not, then just cut the line and gently release the fish. Whenever I hook a fish near the eyes (and I'm not keeping it), I'll cut the line. Mini surgery too often makes things worse. How do you prevent this from happening? Good question! Being hyper attentive is one way. If you are on the bite when it occurs you can frequently prevent severe hook damage. However, this does not mean you yank like hell, because you could rip the lips off the poor fish that way. What I mean is a simple hook set, a firm tug and a tight line. Horsing in a fish is a great way to injure it. Keep the line tight, the drag set snugly but not too unyielding and take your time with the fish. My preference is not to use sliding sinker rigs because fish swallow the hook more easily than on fixed rigs. Others may debate this, and that is what this board is for. As for the rule that you have to release undersized fish, I think it is a good rule despite severely injured or bleeding fish. If we were allowed to keep undersized fish because they were wounded or apparently dying, then you can believe that this would be abused, and many people would use it as an excuse (unprovable post mortem)to keep short sizes. All I Want Is A Fair Fight
Name: Songslinger
And Once Again Stinky Beats Me To The Punch. Which is cool, so long as I'm the one with the most fish, heh heh! All I Want Is A Fair Fight
Name: stinkyfingers
But I neglected the part about a fixed rig. My bad. By the way - despite the fact that I fished the whole damn coast, and an island - you still caught more fish than I! Cheers!
Name: johnr
Consider crimping the barbs on your hooks or using barbless hooks. It makes for easier hook removal causing less damage to the fish. If it gets hooked in the gills or guts just cut the line and hope for the best. Circle hooks increase the odds of jaw/mouth hook ups. Circle barbless hooks are available and the only ones allowed for salmon fishing. John
Name: Songslinger
“Circle barbless hooks are available and the only ones allowed for salmon fishing.” Not so. Inland regs are quite different. Don't want to mislead people. All I Want Is A Fair Fight
Name: stinkyfingers
Should read as "Circle barbless hooks are available and the only ones allowed for OCEAN salmon fishing."
Name: JeroldBurrow
Thanks for the solid advice guys... I'll try to adhere to them on my next fishing excursion. Jerold Burrow
Name: castlebravo
Barbless hooks also penetrate easier. So you may still end up with more fish. My problem is finding barbless hooks larger than a size 12 in a tackle shop. So I guess I will just flatten or break of the barbs.
To: PFIC Message Board
From: JeroldBurrow
Subject: Undersized fish that are injured by the hook...
Greetings — I recently hooked an undersized halibut off of the Imperial Beach Pier. The hook went through the fish's head, right between the eyes. I removed the hook as best as I could then released it. It hit the water, then slowly swam off. Not sure if it lived or not. What do you guys do when you hook fish like this? Undersized fish are illeagal to keep regardless of condition, right? Is there anything I can do to help prevent such occurrences? All comments are welcome. Thanks in advance!
Name: stinkyfingers
#1: circle hooks get them in the mouth most of the time.
#2: if you hook 'em bad - cut the line.
#3: don't use stainless hooks, use the bronze ones -they rust easy.
#4: set hook right away on a bite, don't let it run with the bait.
Name: Songslinger
Best thing to do--if you can--is cut the hook with wire cutters. If not, then just cut the line and gently release the fish. Whenever I hook a fish near the eyes (and I'm not keeping it), I'll cut the line. Mini surgery too often makes things worse. How do you prevent this from happening? Good question! Being hyper attentive is one way. If you are on the bite when it occurs you can frequently prevent severe hook damage. However, this does not mean you yank like hell, because you could rip the lips off the poor fish that way. What I mean is a simple hook set, a firm tug and a tight line. Horsing in a fish is a great way to injure it. Keep the line tight, the drag set snugly but not too unyielding and take your time with the fish. My preference is not to use sliding sinker rigs because fish swallow the hook more easily than on fixed rigs. Others may debate this, and that is what this board is for. As for the rule that you have to release undersized fish, I think it is a good rule despite severely injured or bleeding fish. If we were allowed to keep undersized fish because they were wounded or apparently dying, then you can believe that this would be abused, and many people would use it as an excuse (unprovable post mortem)to keep short sizes. All I Want Is A Fair Fight
Name: Songslinger
And Once Again Stinky Beats Me To The Punch. Which is cool, so long as I'm the one with the most fish, heh heh! All I Want Is A Fair Fight
Name: stinkyfingers
But I neglected the part about a fixed rig. My bad. By the way - despite the fact that I fished the whole damn coast, and an island - you still caught more fish than I! Cheers!
Name: johnr
Consider crimping the barbs on your hooks or using barbless hooks. It makes for easier hook removal causing less damage to the fish. If it gets hooked in the gills or guts just cut the line and hope for the best. Circle hooks increase the odds of jaw/mouth hook ups. Circle barbless hooks are available and the only ones allowed for salmon fishing. John
Name: Songslinger
“Circle barbless hooks are available and the only ones allowed for salmon fishing.” Not so. Inland regs are quite different. Don't want to mislead people. All I Want Is A Fair Fight
Name: stinkyfingers
Should read as "Circle barbless hooks are available and the only ones allowed for OCEAN salmon fishing."
Name: JeroldBurrow
Thanks for the solid advice guys... I'll try to adhere to them on my next fishing excursion. Jerold Burrow
Name: castlebravo
Barbless hooks also penetrate easier. So you may still end up with more fish. My problem is finding barbless hooks larger than a size 12 in a tackle shop. So I guess I will just flatten or break of the barbs.