removing gut hook from small fish

[usernamehere]

how do you remove gut hook from small fish, say small bullheads or sunfish? Iv had some tries at removing but always end up hurting the fish.
im using size 8 baitholder hooks, and once the fish swallows the hook, its really hard to get it out.

 

[Dugger]

...I learned over the years that sadly, jerking, pulling, trying to remove the hook kills the fish, obviously. When i was a bait fisherman many moons ago as a kid we would simply cut the line as close to the mouth as possible. I was shocked and happy to see that many survive this. I had caught fish that had mono sticking out of their mouths from earlier encounters with anglers. I read once that the hook will work it's way into the digestive system and stomach acids will dissolve the hook. Not sure how true that is.

The problem with gut-hooked fish is usually that the angler sets the hook too late, does not detect the "bite" until the fish has already swallowed it. Quality floats, larger hooks, long shank hooks, snipping the barbs on your hooks can all help. Number One rule: keep your eye on that tip, float or your finger on that line!

cheers!

 

[NADO]

what dugger said, cut the line if you cant get it out as ripping it out will only guarantee that the fish wont survive. Also a pair of forcepts are great for getting hooks out of fish with small mouths and I also saw a really cool hook removal tool at Rainbow Sports in Waterloo a few weeks ago that was a metal rod that goes in the fishes mouth, pushes out the hook and then pulls it up with it.

 

[MartyLee]

agrees with above, hooks are cheap, cut the line.

 

[FishingNoob]

It's been said, BUT.... long shanked hooks, fast hook sets, hook removing tools and pinching down the barbs will all help.

 

[usernamehere]

thanks for the reply. I do use barb-less hooks only, but my reaction to a bite is kinda slow.

I can successfully remove a gut hook from a tiny fish by pushing the hook inside the fish a bit to expose the hook point, then use a small hollow plastic tube(like the ones from lollipops) to push against the hook point and cover it, then just drag it out with needle nose pliers. Kinda hard to do by myself, as it requires both hands, but when im fishing with a friend, it works. Whenever im fishing alone, I can never get the hook out

 

[Dozer]

Like a surgeon :lol: Very interesting method you have with removing the hooks. I personally just cut the hook and toss the fish back, as the others have stated. I constantly hear stories of deep hooked smallies spitting out large hooks in live wells so I'm sure other species could have the same ability.

I always fish with needle nose pliers not matter what species I'm after, definitely help with those hard to reach places.

 

[FishingNoob]

I always fish with needle nose pliers not matter what species I'm after, definitely help with those hard to reach places.

These are a must.

 

[alex10578]

For $1.50 this tool does the the trick. If the fish is too small though i would just cut the line.
http://www.basspro.com/Fish-Hook-Disgorger/product/31852/