It can be a humbling experience to watch seven-year old kids grabbing those squirming fish like it’s nothing, while you’re completely helpless on how to proceed.
Let’s back up. Before you leave you need to have gloves. Never mind that no one else has a glove. They have practice, you don’t. (And don’t be surprised if they ask to borrow YOUR glove. They’re always good to have on when fishing.)
Fortunately the best gloves are the cheap gloves. Simple cotton gloves you can get for around a dollar a pair at the hardware counter will work fine, protecting your hands and giving you a good grip on the fish. (Those pesky sharp fin tips can sometimes go through cloth and stick you slightly, but with most fish this is not a big problem – watch out for catfish, though.)
There are expensive fish handling gloves. Not necessary, but if you have extra cash, go ahead and get those. Whatever you use, be sure to wash them after the trip!
Now, you just pulled a wiggling fish out of the water. We’ll assume it’s not a big fish, maybe 6 inches long? Leave it hanging in the air but grab it as soon as possible, putting the rod and reel down to your side or on the ground.
Reach around the fish’s mouth and grab the head. It will probably wiggle when it’s touched, so be ready. You’ll probably pull your hands away in a reflex action. If so, then just grab it again and hold it tight, but not enough to hurt it.
You’d like to get the hook out easily. The way to do this is to push it further into the fish’s mouth about a quarter inch. The reason is to get the barb of the hook out of the fish’s tissue. This would be much easier if the fish would hold still, but it probably won’t.
You should have long-nose pliers for this – much better than using your fingers.
Once the barb is clear, pull it out.
Fish to be extra careful with:
Catfish have fins that can stick you much more than most other fish can. Be very careful with them.
Fish in the pike family have sharp teeth. Use pliers only. Some fish, like bass, are routinely handled with a thumb or finger right in the mouth. But if you don’t know the fish you’re handling, keep fingers clear.
In saltwater there are many fish to watch out for. Bluefish can slice fingers and saltwater trout have jagged teeth that will scratch you. Of course many of the large fish such as barracuda and sharks are dangerous, as are stingrays.
Summarizing, for your first trip, handle all fish with gloves and pliers!
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2 comments:
First of all, I love this blog. It's exactly what I need. I'm an adult trying to get back into fishing, after only doing it with my dad years and years and years ago. For some reason, removing the hook seems like it's going to be the hardest part for me.
When you say to pull the hook out, do you mean to back it out, or pull it out through whatever flesh it's caught in?
What are your thoughts on barbless and circle hooks? Will that make it easier?
tm, Thanks, glad it's a help.
Yes, back the hook out, that is, you have to push it back to get that barb out, and that sometimes takes a little effort. You might have to work it back and forth a little, especially when it's down into the mouth. That's where the longnose pliers really help. Once the barb is free, then it's a matter of not sticking the fish again while you pull the hook out of its mouth. Those lures with the treble (triple) hooks are really hard to get out sometimes. I don't use them very often.
I have used barbless hooks. Just use pliers to bend that barb down, and then the hook is really easy to remove. Some fishing areas actually require barbless hooks. The problem is obvious -- the hooks come out SO easily, the fish often get away.
Those circular hooks work very well. I've used fairly large ones bait fishing, mostly in salt water. You just twist them in a circle to get them out -- and pliers are a BIG help with those.
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