From Fish Hook Removers to Circle Hooks, We've Got the Best Tips to Get You Off the Hook!
You set the hook, reeled it in, now what? If you’re planning to catch and release, knowing how to unhook a fish without harming it is essential. Removing the hook improperly can cause the fish to bleed out which can damage the population at your local fishing hole. We’ll walk you through how to safely release your catch step by step.
Use Circle Hooks
Circle fishing hooks are easier to remove without harming the fish.
Your first step is using the right hook. Traditional “J” hooks are much more likely to get caught in a fish’s gills or guts making it hard to remove without fatally harming the fish. Circle fishing hooks have a much lower chance of gut hooking the fish in favor of lip hooking the fish instead. All of the circle hooks we carry are barbed, but you can flatten the barb on the hook with a pair of needle nose pliers to make the hook even easier to remove.
Reel In Your Catch
Reel in your catch until you can grab it or net it. Keep the fish in the water for as long as possible to increase the chance the fish will survive when released. You should also aim to land the fish quickly. A long fight will exhaust the fish making it more likely that the fish won’t recover well once released.
Firmly Hold the Fish
Don’t let the fish wriggle free and fall to the deck or the ground. To get a solid grip on your catch, place one hand around the pectoral fins near the gills and your other hand near the tail.
If the Fish is Hooked Through the Lip
In this case, you can usually slide it straight out the way the hook went in. Go slow and make sure not to tear the lip of the fish. Having fishing tools on hand like a pair of needle nose pliers will give you better leverage and make removing the hook easier.
If the Fish Has Swallowed the Hook
If you are planning to keep, clean and eat the fish, then you can leave the hook in and remove it when you gut it. If you want to release the fish, you need to be very careful to avoid fatally harming it. Try to cut away a small bit of flesh around the hook to make it easier to remove. If you can’t get the hook out without causing more damage, cut your line as close as you can to the hook and release the fish. It will have a better chance of surviving if you leave the hook in rather than causing more damage trying to remove it.
Releasing the Fish
Know catch limits and other regulations before you go fishing and always release fish in the same water you pulled it from. Handle the fish with wet hands to avoid the fish’s scales or protective slime from sticking to your skin. Do not throw the fish back into the water as the impact can stun or kill the fish. Slip the fish below the surface and hold it gently until the fish swims away. If the fish doesn’t swim away on its own, gently move it back and forth in the water to move water over the gills and give the fish some oxygen
With that, your catch should be back in the water and you hopefully got a good picture holding it before you released it. Now cast again and reel in the next one.
Need More Help?
West Marine is the perfect place to get ready for your next fishing trip. We offer free line spooling and locally assorted tackle in most of our stores to gear you up for what’s biting in your area. Plus, with a huge selection of fishing gear and plenty of anglers on our crew, we have the know-how you need to get ready. Find your store here.
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