Circle hooks on Striped Bass

[Loonzter]

Got out last Thursday, instead of going right for the tog we decided to try the bunker schools for bass. We found over -slots more than willing to slurp down live bunker on circle hooks. I do have a question for those of you fishing live bait for Striped Bass. What is the best way to remove a circle hook from a Bass's jaw? You can't use a hook -out because unlike a J hook when inverted the point of the hook is still pointing into the fish's mouth. Yanking on the hook will do more damage to the fish. I was hoping to not have to handle the fish but with the circle hook it seems like you don't have much choice. Any tips?

 

[Chevy1]

I’ve never had a problem removing a circle hook from a bass. It’s usually right in th corner of its jaw and comes out easily with a slight twist and pull .

 

[OVERBORED]

 

[Loonzter]

Well, thank you Chevy1 for your advice. Never having any problem removing a Circle hook is a good thing. However, out of the four Bass caught not one of the hooks were removed easily without pulling the fish from the water. We tried a hook remover on the 1st one only to realize the inward bend of the point prevented the hook from pulling straight out. All our fish were hooked perfectly in the jaw just like it's supposed to. Using only fingers in their mouths it seemed difficult to extract the bent barbed hook point from the thrashing 30# class fish. Needless to say we got the hooks out and all fish were revived and released but for me getting that hook out was an issue. I suppose with more practice I'll get better at it. By the way, I do not consider myself a googin by any stretch of the imagination, I was just asking if anyone has experienced something similar and perhaps had discovered a more efficient way.

 

[Loonzter]

Overboard, thanks for the video, unfortunately there was some kind if error and I couldn't watch it. I'm going to check YouTube now for another one.

 

[CELLFISH]

LONG NOSE PLIERS… tie string to the tool and boat so is dosent go over da side… cellfish…

 

[wader]

unusual - I always used to use circle hooks with eels & clams - came out pretty easy - sometimes the fish dehooked itself once out of the water

 

[Loonzter]

Thanks guys, guess I'll just need to carry a pair of long-nose pliers and hopefully twist it out instead of lugging a big fish out of the water to wrestle with it on the deck just to pull a hook out of it's jaw. Enjoy the Fall run everyone, tight lines.