The best tool for all hook removal in smaller species is a pair of quality long nosed pliers. Use these every time, because they're far quicker than your fingers for anything other than a light lip hook hold. For tope, shark, rays etc, a long handled pair of normal pliers are good and keep the hands away from any teeth.
The best place to grip a hook is not on the shank, but in the middle of the bend where gentle, but persistent pressure away from the hook hold will lift the hook point free. Twisting the hook does no good at all. If a fish has pulled the hook point fully through the lip, then it's quicker to snip the hook trace off above the hook, and pull the hook through point first followed by the shank.
If a flatfish has got a hook down deep, then it's best to cut the hook off at the knot and free the fish with the hook still in. Consider that flatfish, in fact all fish, will eat broken mussel and razorfish shells and hard backed crab with ease, and you realise just how insignificant a hook is to a fish. Evidence suggests that fish can shed a hook within hours anyway, providing it is a bronze pattern and will corrode. Coated or commercially plated pattern hooks and stainless steel hooks should never be used.
REMOVING HOOKS
i'll second thAt tip, alot of the fish i catch swollow the hook and i find it much easier just to cut the hook off at the knot and return it, if you just RIVE the hook out it will kill the fish, not so bad if it's a biggun, but no good if only small fish will never get the chance to get big and be caught again and give plesure to another angler
swizzle stick
Swizzle, or Twizzle sticks:
You can't buy these, but you can buy a wooden drumstick and a pair of cymbals from a music shop, cut off the stick tip and round the end with sandpaper. The taper of the stick is important.
Pt.I: With a deep-hooked flattie, hold the snood so the fish hangs on its own weight. Insert the tapered end of the stick as far as it will go into the gullet, then grip the snood and stick in the same hand. Gently swirl the stick in a circular motion, the fish begins to spin on it and the snood winds itself around the stick. Keep going, it'll put such tension on the hook that the hook will 'pop' free and the fish falls off, dizzy but free to fight again. Get it dead right, the hook will even nick into the end of the stick to be easily withdrawn without snagging again.
Pt.II: Use the cymbals to draw your mate's attention to your catch.
(If I see someone actually do Pt.II, I will cry with laughter and buy them a drink). MK
You can't buy these, but you can buy a wooden drumstick and a pair of cymbals from a music shop, cut off the stick tip and round the end with sandpaper. The taper of the stick is important.
Pt.I: With a deep-hooked flattie, hold the snood so the fish hangs on its own weight. Insert the tapered end of the stick as far as it will go into the gullet, then grip the snood and stick in the same hand. Gently swirl the stick in a circular motion, the fish begins to spin on it and the snood winds itself around the stick. Keep going, it'll put such tension on the hook that the hook will 'pop' free and the fish falls off, dizzy but free to fight again. Get it dead right, the hook will even nick into the end of the stick to be easily withdrawn without snagging again.
Pt.II: Use the cymbals to draw your mate's attention to your catch.
(If I see someone actually do Pt.II, I will cry with laughter and buy them a drink). MK
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concrete
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JerryLBarnette
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