Removing a wrasse using a hook

[Paul B]

This wrasse grew to big so I caught him on a tiny hook made out of a needle with a piece of clam as bait. I gave him back to the store.

 

[Labridaedicted]

Works well on bold, aggressive feeders. If you use really small (like #28 or 30 fly hooks) you can catch little stuff as well like damsels using mysis as bait.

Congrats on the catch! I've had many a beer catching fish with hook or traps. Some of those attempts go better than others!

 

[Paul B]

He actually stole my bait four times before that last one. I made the tiny hook with a needle that I heated and bent with a needle nose pliers. I had to be careful because the copperband likes clams as much as he does, but the wrasse is faster.
For the tiny fish, I use a trap but aggressive wrasses are simple to catch.

 

[Empress]

Doesn't that hurt the fishes mouth? I'm assuming the fish doesn't actually bite or swallow the hook; you just catch him before he bites the bullet?
I just know someone has a video of this right??? [emoji572]️

 

[Paul B]

That was just a needle, not a real fish hook which would have a barb on it. He jumped off the hook as soon as I lifted him over the tank. By tomorrow he will be healed.
I am sure it hurts him less than when we get a shot and much less than how the flounder was caught that I ate last night.

 

[jd371]

The thing I'd watch out for is if the fish inhales all the bait and gets gut hooked. You have to use a big enough piece where he can't swallow the whole thing. I Striper fish and practice catch and release so I crush all the barbs on my lures to make them easier to unhook.

 

[Paul B]

There was no barb, just a needle. I have done this dozens of times and never lost a fish

 

[cpvince]

I've contemplated doing the same thing before when they don't want to swim into my fish trap. Kinda neat to see it in action!

 

[4FordFamily]

I've used this before with great success as well!

 

[enveetie]

probably the coolest reef related thing i've seen all year. bahahah. ive got a 2nd pygmy angel going in tomorrow, lets see if i'll need to replicate your success

 

[4FordFamily]

probably the coolest reef related thing i've seen all year. bahahah. ive got a 2nd pygmy angel going in tomorrow, lets see if i'll need to replicate your success

That may be more difficult -- but good luck!

A social acclimation box would be a good idea!

 

[Baldguy]

There was no barb, just a needle. I have done this dozens of times and never lost a fish

Did you leave the needle sharp? Or blunt it a little?

 

[Scott.h]

That's hilarious. Well played!

 

[lewis.maryann08]

Trippin

 

[Girthrockwel]

That's awesome stuff!! In before the "I can't believe you'd do that crowd".

 

[Paul B]

It was sharp

Did you leave the needle sharp? Or blunt it a little?

 

[evolved]

I've done this before myself as well, and I used a small fly fishing hook and just removed the barb from it before use.

 

[mtfish]

Hooking fish is a good and fast way to get some fish out. I have done this with thin copper wire bent to make a hook. I have also used barb-less fish hooks (tiny hook). Injury is small and they heal quickly as long as there is no barb.

 

[Grey Guy]

I quit fishing when I decided to try and keep fish alive. The video is kind of creepy to me.

 

[Paul B]

I quit fishing when I decided to try and keep fish alive. The video is kind of creepy to me.

Some people would feel that way but I eat fish almost every day, fished for many years and my family owned a sea food business so my entire life I have been surrounded by dead and live fish.

If you are religious, Jesus ate fish, Moses ate fish, Noah and the Saints ate fish and guess what fish eat? Fish.
A fish is an animal that never dies of old age, they are always eaten alive by something bigger or suffocate on the deck of a ship. Besides that 99.99% of their babies are eaten either before or just as they are born, many of them eaten by their own Mother or first cousins twice removed.