How do you get them out???????????

[Reveille75]

Let's assume for a minute that I figured out how to rig a circle hook, that I displayed enough calm to set the hook properly, how do I remove the hook? Do any of the hook outs that we all own work? Do we cut the eye off and push the hook through? I look at the way the hook is shaped and it just doesn't look like I can grab it with pliers and back it out and I sure don't want to leave a foot of mono trailing down the side of a marlin. I won't be catching 20 a day so I will have time to it right. How do you guys do it?
David

[Squidnation]

Reveille75

This is just my personal opinion and you will probably get lots of different opinions on this topic. I prefer to snip the line as close as possible to the hook and let the hook rust out. Here is why I feel this is best for the fish.

1. You must first subdue the fish in order to get the fish calm enough to remove the hook. Some will bring it onboard and remove much of the protective slime.

2. The fish is already tired. when one grabs the bill they will wrestle it until the fish is exhausted. That is not a good way to release the fish, regardless how long you try to revive him. When that fish approaches the boat on the leader he is at his fiestiest. So if you cut the line soon he will already have his energy. I never understood grabbing the bill and wrestle him to near death just to revive him in a few second.

3. the VMC, Owner, Eagle etc thin wire hooks all rust before your eyes. It will not stay in jaw for any period long period of time.

4. also carefully wire the fish to the boat prior to cutting the line. Another thing that doesn't make much sense to me is how we carefully fight a marlin to the boat on light drag and then grab the leader and pull as hard as we can. I rarely see bleeders with circle hooks but when I do it is because some horsed the fish to the boat thus ripping the flesh and causing the bleeding.

Again just my 2 cents.

[SeaMent]

We cut the leader as close to the fish as we can and leave the hook in em!!

[whitey]

On whites and sails with light leaders I just give the leader a tug and break them off. The crimp or knot is the weakest link so 9 times out of 10 the leader will pop right at the hook just leaving the hook in the fish with no mono trailing behind. On a Blue Marlin with a heavier leader I cut it off as close to the hook as possible.

[SeaMent]

Whitey, I used to do that as well, I don't remember the boat or all the details but there was a mate years ago that went to yank a "White" one off at the boat and I guess the fish jumped and the hook came back and hit him square in the eye, and he was hauled off the boat in a chopper to the hospital and I'm pretty sure he lost that eye I use release knifes for that reason!!

[whitey]

It's all fun and games untill someone loses an eye.

[reel fool]

Reveille75

This is just my personal opinion and you will probably get lots of different opinions on this topic. I prefer to snip the line as close as possible to the hook and let the hook rust out. Here is why I feel this is best for the fish.

1. You must first subdue the fish in order to get the fish calm enough to remove the hook. Some will bring it onboard and remove much of the protective slime.

2. The fish is already tired. when one grabs the bill they will wrestle it until the fish is exhausted. That is not a good way to release the fish, regardless how long you try to revive him. When that fish approaches the boat on the leader he is at his fiestiest. So if you cut the line soon he will already have his energy. I never understood grabbing the bill and wrestle him to near death just to revive him in a few second.

3. the VMC, Owner, Eagle etc thin wire hooks all rust before your eyes. It will not stay in jaw for any period long period of time.

4. also carefully wire the fish to the boat prior to cutting the line. Another thing that doesn't make much sense to me is how we carefully fight a marlin to the boat on light drag and then grab the leader and pull as hard as we can. I rarely see bleeders with circle hooks but when I do it is because some horsed the fish to the boat thus ripping the flesh and causing the bleeding.

Again just my 2 cents.

I second all of this. Exactly how I do it Bill.

and the tugging of the light leader to release the fish?? You are hurting the fish---alot. When you are breaking 60-100 lbs leaders on small marlin/sails by yanking the leader to break it, you are applying likely 40-80 lbs of heat to that hook b4 the leader gives somewhere, driving the hook in deeper, or possibly further injuring the corner of the fishes mouth--even on a circle. afterall, they are not always in the corner of the mouth. regardless, a little preparation & a few $$$ for a release knife (or small bait knife) will go a long way. cut 'em off. its important.

[Finnseeker]

I second all of this. Exactly how I do it Bill.

and the tugging of the light leader to release the fish?? You are hurting the fish---alot. When you are breaking 60-100 lbs leaders on small marlin/sails by yanking the leader to break it, you are applying likely 40-80 lbs of heat to that hook b4 the leader gives somewhere, driving the hook in deeper, or possibly further injuring the corner of the fishes mouth--even on a circle. afterall, they are not always in the corner of the mouth. regardless, a little preparation & a few $$$ for a release knife (or small bait knife) will go a long way. cut 'em off. its important.

Most have addressed all good an valid points. Right now I know of one manufacturer on advice from us that is working on hooks that will break in half with different tests after a certain preassure is applied ie pulling the leader. These hooks are under testing right now and will get you some results once im confident they will work. The hooks will have different indentations or grooves that would break at the required preassure just enough to break the hook in half/free.

Im reading here also that many of you using heavy heavy leaders, we use 30 and 40 lb Fluro only and 30-/40 lb mainline so not much preassure is applied to any fish to have the knott break at the hook whereby not injuring the fish by applying to much preassure as not all fish are hooked in the corner of the mouth. All striped marlin, sailfish, white marlin and small blues.

Best case senario is to use thin wired hooks as they rust ouit rapidly and cut the leader as close to the hook as possible without stressing or injuring the fish.

[Seaker]

Just my two cents on leadering here and Bill hit it spot on.

We have done a considerable amount of shark fishing with circle hooks for research purposes. One key thing when leadering you can be firm but smooth gets it done for us. Now the circles (non offset) we are using are stout so if we can't back them out we cut them with bolt cutters leaving merely a trace of the hook. If it's all the way through then the bolt cutters on the outside of the hook and it slips out with ease.

Once again when the leaderperson gets firm but smooth we see a lot less thrasing around boat side...now I can only dream of releasing enough blue girls to comment on that topic

[Deep C]

Have been able to get a few back out by billing the fish and doing it in the water. Some just wont come out and they get cut very close to the mouth. Bringing them out is not good for them. We do try to remove them because the circle where it sets though not immediately life threatening has the potential for far worse damage than even a gut hooking. The circle sets in the mandibluar joint in most cases. There it is getting no acid addition to facilitate rusting. The position in that joint has the portential for causing that joint to inflame quickly and then the fish can't eat.
Studies done on recaptured bluefin tuna that had long line circles in them showed the fish to be emaciated and virtually without value in the market.
Each year I catch a couple to a few fish with J hooks in them and not showing any particular stress. Supposedly nearly half the billfish here in south Florida are being caught on circles. I know nobody personally who has recaptured one with a circle in it. I did catch my first silk shark with one in it this year though and he was niot showing any wear as such.
We for the first time in years tagged some fish this year. It will be interesting to see percentage wise how many circle caught fish do get recaptured versus those tagged using J hooks. That would be a number I would love to see.