Gut-Hooked Question

[denmer30]

Pertaining to when the situation when you have to cut the leader due to a hopelessly hooked fish (gut hooked or hooked deep in the throat) so that it may be released, I've heard two theories on what happens to the hook.
1. after a week or two, the hook rusts and dissolves due to the exposure to water and the fish's digestive enzymes.
2. the tissue in which the hook is embedded scars and dies, thus freeing the hook.

I have no personal insight on this matter but i'm curious about what others think. I had to cut my leader last week on the Delaware River and the 31 incher swam away with my in-line circle hook (with any luck, healthy and able to spawn.)

Thanks.

[Timmy T]

I have often wondered the same, I'd love to hear from Capt Harv or any other barners with striper biology knowledge

Howd you guy hoook em with a circle?

[WaltJr]

That's a good question. I have always heard the same thing. I have caught a few fish in my time with hooks in them already but I have never caught one or heard of on that had a partially disolved or rusty hook in it.

[zar2754]

chances are either way the fish will die. it the fish is lip hooked yes the hook will rust out...and it will also rust out in the belly, but after the fish dies...the damage to the digestive tract if it is punctured (especially in the stomach) because it being a closed system, will leak materials , fluids etc into the body cavity which equals fatality.

[Timmy T]

What about just deep in the mouth but with no visible blood, etc.

[denmer30]

I have no doubt the fish will die if the stomach is perforated. In my case, the hook was so far back in the throat that i couldn't free it with my 9 inch pliers. there was no obvious bleeding. it looked like the hook penetrated the superficial tissue.

[backpain]

*Takes Hat Off*

We can only hope it is able to spawn before its passing. :(
I am totally new to circle hooks, I guess no plan or action is fool proof perfect every time.

[Timmy T]

I have no doubt the fish will die if the stomach is perforated. In my case, the hook was so far back in the throat that i couldn't free it with my 9 inch pliers. there was no obvious bleeding. it looked like the hook penetrated the superficial tissue.

Of course, I wasn't referring to stomach perf thats always curtains it seems, I was referring to a situation similar to yours mentioned above, superficial tissue, no visible blood

[WETDREAM]

get the arc-dehooker. gets even gut hooked hooks out with minimal damage to fish. works great. saved lots of fish on my boat for an easy release even deep gutted hooked fish. works on all species real well. love it

http://www.dehooker4arc.com/testimonials.html

[denmer30]

get the arc-dehooker. gets even gut hooked hooks out with minimal damage to fish. works great. saved lots of fish on my boat for an easy release even deep gutted hooked fish. works on all species real well. love it

http://www.dehooker4arc.com/testimonials.html

i just read about the arc dehooker in the fisherman magazine no more than 30 mins ago. thanks for the tip. i will invest in one. i think in my case, my 3/0 gamakatsu must have been in too small.

[truckman]

You can back out most circle hooks if you go in carefully through the gills and back the circle hook out. Just takes a little time and and exra pair of hands also makes it easier. The one thing about the circle hook is the point of the hook is inward so it woin't work its way into the fish and that's why you should take the time to remove it. We had three fish last Saturday that were hooked deep and we removed the hooks and released them.