Since I do a lot of catch and release I was always told if the crappie or bass swallows the hook to leave it in...they might have a chance because their stomach acid would eventually dissolve the hook.
Fact or fiction?
Since I do a lot of catch and release I was always told if the crappie or bass swallows the hook to leave it in...they might have a chance because their stomach acid would eventually dissolve the hook.
Fact or fiction?
If its left in the fish, a lot of time the hook works itself out of the fish.
If its bleeding a lot, most will die. Leave the hook in if its deep.
Leave the hook in and it's a mystery weather or not it will die.
Pull the hook out and it's a certainty that the fish will die.
Eat it.
Thumbs UpYep, just eat it.
Yup just eat it
if they bleed at all i eat em'. i was cleaning a mess the other day and one crappie had a #2 gold hook in its stomach. the hook looked new, as though the crappie just swallowed it.
I normally wait and see. If i can take the hook out safely i let it go. If its too far stuck in there, i put him back in the water and see what it does. If it swims away, i know he will be alright, if not, i put him in the cooler to go home.
But i've always wondered what would law enforcement do if they caught you taking a fish home that swallowed a hook and died but was under the size limit? Would they shy away from it and let it go? Or fine you for not letting it float in the water?
I've released plenty of fish that bleed and swam away fine. I actually hooked a good size bluegill 2 weeks ago through the eye, bleed a lot, and when i put him back in the water he seemed to cough more blood through his gills before he darted away. Stayed at the same spot for 5 more hours and never saw him surface to die. So i guess he made it.