Skip to main content

The Art and Science of Dehooking

Release your catch—safely.

Fish Saver is designed to return deepwater fish to bottom.

That we need government to require dehookers on reef fishing trips is absurd, given that we've always had handy pliers or disgorgers to retrieve hooks from spiky, toothy critters caught far from shore. Still, it's worth pointing out that state and federal fishing regulations for both the Gulf and Atlantic sides of Florida now dictate that we carry appropriate tools for extricating hooks when targeting reef fish—which includes snappers, amberjacks and groupers.

Somewhat confusing is that only on the Gulf side are reef fishermen obligated to carry venting tools—the hollow needles which may be used to purge gases from bottom fish.

Regardless of what you're targeting, you can make the whole dehooking operation a lot simpler by: one, using circle hooks (a requirement in ocean reef fisheries); or two, reducing the barbs on hooks and lures. If you reduce the barb, either with a few strokes of a file or by squeezing it lightly with pliers, you'll find it's far easier to get out once a fish is caught—and in fact, on larger hooks, you'll actually get more solid hookups because a big barb is hard to sink.

With a single-hook lure and reduced barb sunk in the forward part of the jaw, you can usually pop the hook out with your fingers, or with standard fishermen's pliers. With soft-mouthed fish, this can often be done without even touching the fish; simply grasp the hook, turn it upside down (so that the point faces the water) and give it a shake; the fish will usually fall off, which gives it a much better chance of survival than if you grip and squeeze.

But as you add more hooks and as the lure or bait goes deeper down the throat, you need more instruments for the process to have a happy ending.

For toothy and aggressive fish—blues and mangrove snappers--I want a tool that keeps my fingers well clear of the danger zone.

If you're fishing live bait on a single hook, one of the classic “fish flippers” is all you need; this is a T-handled stainless rod with an open loop in the lower end that can catch the line and then be run down over the hook to the bend. You then raise up on the bend of the hook and let the weight of the fish pull itself off—the same principle is at work with the small tools used to remove sardines or other baitfish from sabiki rigs. ARC makes the flippers in all sizes up to 34 inches long, and Berkley has one suitable for reef fish, as well as bass, seatrout and most inshore fish.

Some dehooking tool options.

Long-nosed pliers are also favorites with many anglers, and they work great so long as the hook is not too far down the throat. Because you have to start fitting the grips inside the mouth for a deep dehooking, most pliers are not effective in this situation. Surgical forceps have a good reach but most are not strong enough for use in anything beyond panfish hooks.

Tube-type dehookers have squeeze-grips that lock a latching device onto the hook shank. These have a lot of reach, allow you to put on a lot of pressure when needed, and give good visibility down the throat. I've personally used the Bill Dance Dehooker for years and wouldn't leave the dock without it. Rapala makes some good ones too, in 6-inch and 9-inch versions.

With large and durable fish, it's often possible to slip pliers or gripper in through the gill cover, between the gills, and grab a jig or single hook, then carefully draw it out far enough to clip the line. You have to retie, of course, but the fish survives to grow and fight another day.

Whatever tool you use, just remember the fish isn't getting much oxygen while the procedure is underway so make it snappy and don't hesitate to dip the victim in the water and let it recover if the extraction takes longer than expected. This is one reason why billfish anglers are pretty much in agreement over cutting the leader.

And of course for bottom fish, you may have to complete the surgery by venting them to allow them to get back to bottom. Venting tools like the Team Marine Pre-Vent quickly release gases and give the fish a much better chance of survival—again, remember that some sort of venting device is required when fishing for the reef species in the Gulf. Also receiving attention from anglers these days are the recompression devices which incorporate jaws and a spring-release, to carry fish down to their original depth and atmospheric pressure. Studies show these may be more effective than venting tools. FS




GET THE NEWSLETTER Join the List and Never Miss a Thing.

Recommended Articles

Recent Videos

Hardy unveils the Averon series of premium-grade freshwater fly reels. Learn about counter-weighting options for Euro-ny...
Videos

Hyper-Versatile K-Craft Paddle & Powerskiff!

Hardy unveils the Averon series of premium-grade freshwater fly reels. Learn about counter-weighting options for Euro-ny...
Videos

Cover Up With Sun-Protective Clothing

Hardy unveils the Averon series of premium-grade freshwater fly reels. Learn about counter-weighting options for Euro-ny...
Videos

Inflation We Can Live With! Mustang Convertible PFD

Hardy unveils the Averon series of premium-grade freshwater fly reels. Learn about counter-weighting options for Euro-ny...
Videos

Converting and Re-Arming Mustang Inflatable A/M PFD

Hardy unveils the Averon series of premium-grade freshwater fly reels. Learn about counter-weighting options for Euro-ny...
Videos

YakAttack Rod Management Systems Set the Bar for Kayak Anglers

Hardy unveils the Averon series of premium-grade freshwater fly reels. Learn about counter-weighting options for Euro-ny...
Videos

YakAttack Kayak Carts Will Get You There

Hardy unveils the Averon series of premium-grade freshwater fly reels. Learn about counter-weighting options for Euro-ny...
Videos

YakAttack Tackle Storage Just Got WAY BETTER

Hardy unveils the Averon series of premium-grade freshwater fly reels. Learn about counter-weighting options for Euro-ny...
Videos

Take Gear and Tackle Storage to NEW HEIGHTS with Outdoor Crates

Hardy unveils the Averon series of premium-grade freshwater fly reels. Learn about counter-weighting options for Euro-ny...
Gear

‘Magnetic Tethered' Kayak Rods

Hardy unveils the Averon series of premium-grade freshwater fly reels. Learn about counter-weighting options for Euro-ny...
Gear

Plano Soft Sided Tackle Bags

Hardy unveils the Averon series of premium-grade freshwater fly reels. Learn about counter-weighting options for Euro-ny...
Gear

NuCanoe Unlimited U10

Hardy unveils the Averon series of premium-grade freshwater fly reels. Learn about counter-weighting options for Euro-ny...
Gear

What's New in Fly Reels: Hardy

Florida Sportsman Magazine Covers Print and Tablet Versions

GET THE MAGAZINE Subscribe & Save

Digital Now Included!

SUBSCRIBE NOW

Give a Gift   |   Subscriber Services

Preview This Month's Issue

Buy Digital Single Issues

Magazine App Logo

Don't miss an issue.
Buy single digital issue for your phone or tablet.

Get the Florida Sportsman App apple store google play store

Other Magazines

See All Other Magazines

Special Interest Magazines

See All Special Interest Magazines

GET THE NEWSLETTER Join the List and Never Miss a Thing.

Get the top Florida Sportsman stories delivered right to your inbox.

Phone Icon

Get Digital Access.

All Florida Sportsman subscribers now have digital access to their magazine content. This means you have the option to read your magazine on most popular phones and tablets.

To get started, click the link below to visit mymagnow.com and learn how to access your digital magazine.

Get Digital Access

Not a Subscriber?
Subscribe Now

Enjoying What You're Reading?

Get a Full Year
of Guns & Ammo
& Digital Access.

Offer only for new subscribers.

Subscribe Now

Never Miss a Thing.

Get the Newsletter

Get the top Florida Sportsman stories delivered right to your inbox.

By signing up, I acknowledge that my email address is valid, and have read and accept the Terms of Use