Hooks left in fish?

[TRIGGER]

How long will a hook stay inside a fish if they are able to live after breaking one off? I know this is a broad question with the possibility of endless scenarios, just curious what you guys think/know about what happens to fish with a hook in them.

 

[pressfit]

http://www.nesportsman.com/articles/article11.shtml

 

[catman529]

I watched a buddy catch a rock bass that had half of a wide gap hook coming out its bung hole. our best guess is that the fish swallowed a hook or part of a hook and it passed through the system. crazy

 

[Winchester]

I get them out if at all possible without killing them. Ive caught several with hooks in them.

 

[MidTennFisher]

I recently released a larger bass that swallowed the hook too far down the throat to retrieve it. I wound up at a point where I felt I was doing more damage holding her out of the water and tugging on that hook than I would do by just cutting the line and hoping for the best. I sure hope she survived. It's a small pond I fish so I wanted those good genetics to make more fish that may grow that big someday otherwise I would have just taken her home to eat.

If you look online you'll find tons of stories of people keeping big bass and finding all kinds of soft plastics and hooks in their stomachs. I've also read that over time, a lot of time, the hook will dissolve due to a chemical their bodies release.

 

[SES]

I cut a hook off that a smallmouth swallowed last week. I was fishing with a bluegill with a circle hook and it still got hooked deep. Didn't even try to get hook back.

 

[stik]

I watched a buddy catch a rock bass that had half of a wide gap hook coming out its bung hole. our best guess is that the fish swallowed a hook or part of a hook and it passed through the system. crazy

i caught a 20 lb striper that had a length of line hanging out its butt with a hook attached that hadn't passed yet.

 

[SilverFox]

I caught one a couple months ago with a hook and rubber worm still in him. The line looked old but the hook looked new along with the worm. I got the line and worm out but not the hook. He slipped out my hand while I was waiting on Dennis to give me some different pliers and got away. I'd say today's new hooks will last a long time before they rust.

 

[mike243]

most fish will die is my thoughts

 

[stik]

most fish will die is my thoughts

actually most survive if not mishandled.

 

[walker]

I watched a buddy catch a rock bass that had half of a wide gap hook coming out its bung hole. our best guess is that the fish swallowed a hook or part of a hook and it passed through the system. crazy

have caught a couple like this

 

[bassinbrian]

alot of times you can come in behind the gills and turn the hook around in the fishes mouth, with the hook bend facing you, often the hook will come out with minimal damage to the fish, other than that i cut the hook as close to the throat as possiable, ive caught a ton of fish over the years with hooks in em, or line comin out thier rear ends.Keep stay alive or please release me in your boat, if a fish is bleeding put it directly on the spot or put fish and chemicals in your live well, this often peps up the fish and stops the bleeding. When the fish acts like its ready release it, if not eat it.