One time a friend of mine hooked about a 15 lb.gar and I was trying to get the hook out. He told me to just cut the line. He said " Boy don't let that thing bite ya!"
I said "he ain't gonna bite me!" I just barely got the words out when all heck broke loose in the front of the boat. My buddy shouted what happened?
I hollered out "that dang thing bit me!!" I was bleeding out both sides of my knee!
I'm not scared of 'em but now I remove the hook over the side of the boat!