Hey guys
I am new to the site as a poster, but have been following this site since I had dial up service. I have just been a reader, not much of a poster.
The last couple times I have gone kayak fishing, I have hooked up with some nice sized reds. Problem is, I am hooking them deep in their mouth. Not in the lips, gums, or even an inch in. I am talking about the length of my pliers in. I have not been able to get the hook out, with out seriously damaging the fish, so I have left it in. I just cut the line, released it swimming off, and hope that the fish with jar it loose and spit it out.
I, like many of you, love these fish and want to protect them for future fishing. Is there anyway to avoid them just inhaling my bait?
I clamped the barb down on my circle hook as a solution. Next time I will see what happens.
I know ill get some disagreement here on the circle hook thing but to each his own. Quit using circle hooks and use 2 O or 3 O J hooks and set the hook a second after you feel the thump. I rarely gut/throat hook fish and that s how i do it. I’d keep a tight line too so you can tell when they hit the bait. usually, i feel one thump,wait a sec and i set it. with trout and flounder, its different. Unless you are very skilled at removing the hook on gut hooked fish, leaving the hook in is probably the best option(good job). it is doubtful the the fish will ever get it loose or spit it out. However,it is highly possible that the fish will pass the hook or that it will dissolve. not because of salt water but because of enzymes. i caught a bass one time that had a hook in his mouth that was almost completely disintegrated at the entrance and exit point. the rest of the hook had no rust or anything.
I’d rather be a free man in my grave than living as a puppet or a slave.
I use circle hooks unless the rod is in my hand all the time. For circles, 2/0 or 3/0 is plenty big for landing large reds. One thing about circles though… look at them and be sure they are NON OFFSET circles. An offset circle will gut hook a fish nearly every time.
This is how I fish most of my time from the yak. 2 opportunity rods and a third that I’m actively fishing http://youtu.be/sWxlHKc7ScM
I was just about to post the same thing as Too Busy. NON OFFSET and no bigger thn 2/0. I would even try #1 hooks. The smaller the better. We catch 30" Striper up here on #1 circle hooks and never gut hook fish. They inhale the bait when they hit it as well.
I rarely fish with bait so I will defer to those with more experience but it sounds like you may be setting the hook too soon with the circle hooks. I was told to let them turn and the hook will slide out of their throat and impale in the corner of the mouth. And Too Busy is right about no offset.
I discovered an AMAZING hook recently. Ohero Trident circles ROCK!!!
Been using them largemouth fishing with Z-Man Rain MinnowZ and getting great hook up percentages. Work great on trout, reds and lately too many sharks
Cut the line and release w/the hook. It will come out within two weeks. About 75% of them live to fight another day. If they bleed much, they will die.Only about 10% live.
i]Originally posted by Gas Can[/i]
Hey guys
I am new to the site as a poster, but have been following this site since I had dial up service. I have just been a reader, not much of a poster.
The last couple times I have gone kayak fishing, I have hooked up with some nice sized reds. Problem is, I am hooking them deep in their mouth. Not in the lips, gums, or even an inch in. I am talking about the length of my pliers in. I have not been able to get the hook out, with out seriously damaging the fish, so I have left it in. I just cut the line, released it swimming off, and hope that the fish with jar it loose and spit it out.
I, like many of you, love these fish and want to protect them for future fishing. Is there anyway to avoid them just inhaling my bait?
I clamped the barb down on my circle hook as a solution. Next time I will see what happens.
On a c rig, what size circle y’all like to use for MM, FM, and shrimp? I like to use a 2/0 but can’t seem to catch one on these. Also I really don’t like c hooks under a float, what hooks do y’all recommend using for live shrinp/mm/fm under a cork? 1/0kahle is what I use for flounder ,that’s pretty good for not gut hookin right?
On a c rig, what size circle y’all like to use for MM, FM, and shrimp? I like to use a 2/0 but can’t seem to catch one on these. Also I really don’t like c hooks under a float, what hooks do y’all recommend using for live shrinp/mm/fm under a cork? 1/0kahle is what I use for flounder ,that’s pretty good for not gut hookin right?
I use Kahle style hooks under a float. Circle hooks on Carolina rigs.
I agree with the not using offset circle hooks comments. Hook the bait so that the hook can pull out of the bait when a fish grabs it. Otherwise they can suck the bait and hook down into their stomach even after you start tightening down on them.
Hunter
I use circles on my popping cork rig unless it’s in my hand the whole time. If I plan to let it chill in the rod holder while I throw soft plastics, nothing but circle hooks.
I use the 2/0 with baits under a popping cork. MM thru the lips, shrimp thru the first section at the tail fan, FM depends on if blues are chopping them up… in the mouth and out the nostril if no blues; behind the anal fin with blues.
