Do the hooks hurt the fish? 2024

stilldontlikeyou reply :

Ok, so my wife has been asking me questions, and I need a answer to tell her. When she watches me fish and I catch one she feels bad about me hooking them in the lip because she thinks its causing "horrible pain" to the fish, and the holes the hooks sometimes create near the lips grow back right?

I remember reading somewhere fish don't have a lot of feeling near the mouth area and the hooks don't cause nothing more than discomfort, and the membrane(?) material that rips from the hooks grow back. But she's not taking my word for it. Anyone know for sure??

Av8tr reply :

Can't be any worse than a pierced ear, tongue, etc.

CJ reply :

Ofcourse it hurts!Why do you think Jimmy Houston is always "kissing it and making it better"!

Bassn Blvd reply :

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Ofcourse it hurts!Why do you think Jimmy Houston is always "kissing it and making it better"!

I thought he was just trying to get a piece of "bass"......

Gatorbassman reply :

We don't know for sure. But we do know that fish have not developed the part of the brain known for feeling pain.

Long Mike reply :

Tell your wife that the fish feels almost nothing with the hook-set. Getting its azz jerked out of the water is another thing altogether. ;D ;D ;D

Jimzee reply :

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Tell your wife that the fish feels almost nothing with the hook-set. Getting its azz jerked out of the water is another thing altogether. ;D ;D ;D

The first good laugh I've had all day!!! ;D ;D ;D

Catt reply :

It's either a hook or filet knife

justfishin reply :

I can see where this is going and you need to go seek a divorce lawyer immediatly !!!!, lol. ;D

dman reply :

I was wondering this myself the other day and was curious how long after being caught would they wait to eat again? If i just caught a real hungry fish and it wasnt an ugly deep hookset would he just go out and grab a minnow if one swam by him? or would he be waiting a few hours, days?

justfishin reply :

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Ok, so my wife has been asking me questions, and I need a answer to tell her. When she watches me fish and I catch one she feels bad about me hooking them in the lip because she thinks its causing "horrible pain" to the fish

Dude, you need to seek a divorce lawyer immediatly,lol. ;D

jwo1124 reply :

For anyone worried about fish not feeding for a long time after they are hooked or caught...Last week I was fishing, and after the buzzbait bite turned off, I started using th elive shiners I had bought. I was freelining them, and one of the fish must swallowed the bait before swimming off because I hooked him in the throat. I cut the line hoping the hook would get digest(I heard such cases made which I hope is true) I placed the small bass back in the water and a few casts later I caught the same exact fish with the hook still in it's throat. Obviously this fish was not in pain at all, or damaged enough to not feed. Bass swallow crawfish and spiny finned sunfish and perch, so it makes sense that there mouths and throats would not contain a lot of nerve endings or else it would hurt them just to eat. Take your wife to an expensive safood restaurant for a nice piece of fish or lobster, than ask her if she thinks the fish felt pain as it air drowned or if the lobster felt pain when it was dropped into boiling water for its last swim. That should zip her lips for awhile...on that subject at least

Daniel My Brother reply :

Ask the fish if it hurts. If he says "yes" then stop fishing.

Otherwise I think you're ok.

Lucky Craft Man reply :

Here's a great article to read on the subject:

http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art34031.asp

Now after reading that with all the scientific evidence presented, I think its clear fish feel great pain ;D

slomoe reply :

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Here's a great article to read on the subject:
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art34031.asp

Now after reading that with all the scientific evidence presented, I think its clear fish feel great pain ;D

thats great. ;D

Honestly, I think that fish have nerves, and when you hook a fish it stimulates a fish, telling it that its in danger. Pain is a human definition of when nerves send signals to the brain.

Tokyo Tony reply :

Well judging by her picture she sure isn't starving, and I don't believe her when she says she wouldn't eat food if it had hooks in it. Aren't buddhists all about moderation?

Anyway, fish don't feel pain as we know it. Pain is something inextricably tied to our perception, to our human point of view, and we have no way of knowing what a fish feels when it's hooked because there's no way we can separate ourselves from our point of view. Basically, we can't ever know what a fish feels when hooked because we're not fish. I would think the experience for a fish is at least not awesome, but as for exactly what it feels, we can't really ever understand. All we can do is try not to do damage to them and hope they're all right.

Tokyo Tony reply :

Interesting read if you like philosophy, and it's related to the question of whether a bass feels pain.

http://members.aol.com/NeoNoetics/Nagel_Bat.html

Masshole Mike reply :

a funny little quote from that article...

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I remember reeling in a fish that had swallowed the hook, I didn't know that at the time and when I pulled the hook out I pulled out the fishes inside. The fish was still alive. Tell me now, would that hurt? I think having my stomach pulled out threw my mouth would hurt, no matter how small my brain is.

how hard did she yank on that hook that it pulled the fish's guts out through it's mouth? i've gut hooked my fair share of fish and not once have i ever pulled one's insides out, nor have i ever even heard of that happening.

George Welcome reply :

A staple of the Bhuddist diet in SE Asia is fish - the guy that wrote that article was a peta-bhuddist.

Pain is a human thing - do some animals feel pain? Yep. Do fish feel pain? Highly unlikely.

Next time you catch a sunny try swallowing it whole and later tell me about the pain you encountered. Bass do it daily.

BassHunter69 reply :

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Tell your wife that the fish feels almost nothing with the hook-set. Getting its azz jerked out of the water is another thing altogether. ;D ;D ;D

The first good laugh I've had all day!!! ;D ;D ;D

same here jim ;D ;D ;D ;D long mike strikes again ;D ;D ;D ;D

JCrzy4Bass reply :

You ever watch that movie There's Something About Mary ? Enough said lol....

But on a serious note. I don't think we are hurting the bass at all, I figure we are just helping them remove that hook that somehow mysteriously got into their mouths. Now who would do such a thing???

Bass Smacker reply :

NO!!..... Well not like we do. They know something is wrong and they need to get away. Hense the fight.

Think about it if i put a meat hook though your jaw and yanked on it would you fight like a fish.

No you would go where ever I lead you untill I let you go or you got the hook out. All it takes is a little reasning and a understanding that fish are not people nor do they think or feel like people ..

Say no to PETA

BassHunter69 reply :

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NO!!..... Well not like we do. They know something is wrong and they need to get away. Hense the fight.
Think about it if i put a meat hook though your jaw and yanked on it would you fight like a fish.

No you would go where ever I lead you untill I let you go or you got the hook out. All it takes is a little reasning and a understanding that fish are not people nor do they think or feel like people ..

Say no to PETA

does that include:

people eatting tasty animals? (aka Peta)

Cory N reply :

The fish fight when you pull on them. They're not that concerned otherwise.

BassHunter69 reply :

what is this a peta discussion ;D ;D ;D ;D

man you guy seriously need to go fish'n

stilldontlikeyou reply :

;D Good replies....Nah shes cool with my fishing, and she said she may even try fishing herself, but she was wondering how much pain the fish are in. She works at a vet and is a huge animal lover, so she gets concerned over all types of animals. Hell, I feel horrible gut hooking a fish myself. Either way, my fish addiction is growing!

BassHunter69 reply :

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;D Good replies....Nah shes cool with my fishing, and she said she may even try fishing herself, but she was wondering how much pain the fish are in. She works at a vet and is a huge animal lover, so she gets concerned over all types of animals. Hell, I feel horrible gut hooking a fish myself. Either way, my fish addiction is growing!

i know what you mean by gut hooking those fish sometimes that just cant be helped

Raul reply :

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Ofcourse it hurts!Why do you think Jimmy Houston is always "kissing it and making it better"!

Don 't know which is worse, getting hooked or kissed by Jimmy Houston....... now that I think about it with more detail, getting hooked and kissed by Jimmy Houston is worse, cruel and unnecessary suffering.

bassnleo reply :

Just last weekend I was skipping baits under pontoon boats. I fet a bite, set the hook, line broke. I immediately re-tied and skipped my bait back under the very same boat and caught a fish. When I got him in he had my first bait in his throat.....Felt bad about that....but he ate immediately after being hooked once.....

stilldontlikeyou reply :

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Just last weekend I was skipping baits under pontoon boats. I fet a bite, set the hook, line broke. I immediately re-tied and skipped my bait back under the very same boat and caught a fish. When I got him in he had my first bait in his throat.....Felt bad about that....but he ate immediately after being hooked once.....

I had something similar happen not too long ago. I got a bass hooked on the bottom lip and there was some blood dripping involved. I release him, and 4 mins later I catch him again with a couple drops still coming from the hole in the bottom lip.

BassHunter69 reply :

Quote

Quote
Just last weekend I was skipping baits under pontoon boats. I fet a bite, set the hook, line broke. I immediately re-tied and skipped my bait back under the very same boat and caught a fish. When I got him in he had my first bait in his throat.....Felt bad about that....but he ate immediately after being hooked once.....

I had something similar happen not too long ago. I got a bass hooked on the bottom lip and there was some blood dripping involved. I release him, and 4 mins later I catch him again with a couple drops still coming from the hole in the bottom lip.

thats one hungry fish

MemphisFisherman reply :

I'm sure it all depends on the particular fish on how long it takes him to feed again. We used to have a creek that ran behind my old house and it had a decent population of bream and small bass. One day I was wondering how many of the same fish I catch over and over again so I took a small holepuncher with me and punched a little whole in the tail's of the bream I caught that day (mean I know). It wasn't until about 15 were caught before I started catching the same bream again. Maybe this is all situational, being that it's a small narrow creek and I am sure theres alot of pressure from other fish to grab the first thing they see....or maybe it's not. But what I can tell you for sure is that fish have no problem eating again right after being caught. I think what may prolong the period is the stress they are put under after being hooked. Are they drug around in a livewell for 6 hours? Did you hang him from a scale and take pictures for a period of time? Or did you just hook the fish and toss him back...all of these are factor's im sure. And yes, the holes in the mouth and even a torn mouth grow back, how many fish have you caught that had holes in his mouth?

Ghetto_Basser reply :

Well how does the bass feel when he is eating a bluegill? They are a little spiny. How about a duckling? When you hook a bass it is pretty solid around

the mouth. Now gut hooking I can't imagine would feel that good.

So next time your out ask him "how it feels"

MemphisFisherman reply :

^^ exactly. You shouldn't really feel bad for a fish when the only reason you caught him is because he was trying to kill another fish or critter. I guess if you foul hooked the bass...or netted or used some aggravation attempt to get him, then I can see how you can feel differently.

eastkybass reply :

When I was up at my sisters I had my kids out on her dock fishing. My Daughter hooked in to a little bass(10 inches or so) that broke her line off. The next day while I was out fishing a reeled in the same fish and the hook and line was still there. I removed the hook on it and took mine out and off it swam.

Low_Budget_Hooker reply :

Quote
A staple of the Bhuddist diet in SE Asia is fish - the guy that wrote that article was a peta-bhuddist.
Pain is a human thing - do some animals feel pain? Yep. Do fish feel pain? Highly unlikely.

Next time you catch a sunny try swallowing it whole and later tell me about the pain you encountered. Bass do it daily.

This is EXACTLY how it was explained to me by a marine biologist from The Univ of R.I.-Kingston. Fish eat many spiney, shelled creatures. The digestive system of a bass, including it's mouth are null and void of the nerve cells that register "pain". The nerve cells found in these areas can detect pressure, weight, taste and a slight sense of temperature. Otherwise, they would starve.

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I'm sure it all depends on the particular fish on how long it takes him to feed again. We used to have a creek that ran behind my old house and it had a decent population of bream and small bass. One day I was wondering how many of the same fish I catch over and over again so I took a small holepuncher with me and punched a little whole in the tail's of the bream I caught that day (mean I know). It wasn't until about 15 were caught before I started catching the same bream again. Maybe this is all situational, being that it's a small narrow creek and I am sure theres alot of pressure from other fish to grab the first thing they see....or maybe it's not. But what I can tell you for sure is that fish have no problem eating again right after being caught. I think what may prolong the period is the stress they are put under after being hooked. Are they drug around in a livewell for 6 hours? Did you hang him from a scale and take pictures for a period of time? Or did you just hook the fish and toss him back...all of these are factor's im sure. And yes, the holes in the mouth and even a torn mouth grow back, how many fish have you caught that had holes in his mouth?

Not really mean, but not very effective because they will soon repair the fin (unless infection sets in) When infection sets in, the body produces scar tissue and will stop the continuing growth of the fin, otherwise, it will be good as new in a week or 2. Below is a pic of a bass that lost a chunk of tail somewhere along it's long life. Scar tissue set in on the tail and now we know this fish by the tell tale (no pun) mark.

Everyone,...meet Gwendalyn (Gwen for short) She's one of our lakes older matriarchs. Ain't she a beaut for up north?

guest reply :

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Anyway, fish don't feel pain as we know it.

I see. And which of our piscatorial friends confirmed this bit of information?

As far as the mouth, lips, digestive tract of a bass being tough as nails, to that I have no doubt.

But what about when we hook em through the eye/ Think might hurt a tad?

As far the dharma queen spokesperson for all Buddhists. Please feel free to view her comments as if she were someone who read a few bible verses and posted a website announcing they were the messenger of His true word.

Let's get real ok? We can argue about scientific evidence and brain size, and gullet roughness and all that stuff. But why?

Are we afraid to acknowledge that we are involved in a blood sport because some squeamish types find it politically incorrect?

Nobody here is a fish so nobody here knows for sure what they feel or how they feel it.

But lets not hide behind these scientific cop outs.

We are engaged in a legal, economically viable pastime, that we and others enjoy. It does no harm to humans, and using care and consideration for our quarry........c&R. rejuvenation etc. it can actually benefit the breed, and the ecosystem.

Not that this matters.

We fish because we enjoy it. It's legal. And that's all there is to it.

BassHunter69 reply :

Quote

Quote
Anyway, fish don't feel pain as we know it.

I see. And which of our piscatorial friends confirmed this bit of information?

As far as the mouth, lips, digestive tract of a bass being tough as nails, to that I have no doubt.

But what about when we hook em through the eye/ Think might hurt a tad?

As far the dharma queen spokesperson for all Buddhists. Please feel free to view her comments as if she were someone who read a few bible verses and posted a website announcing they were the messenger of His true word.

Let's get real ok? We can argue about scientific evidence and brain size, and gullet roughness and all that stuff. But why?

Are we afraid to acknowledge that we are involved in a blood sport because some squeamish types find it politically incorrect?

Nobody here is a fish so nobody here knows for sure what they feel or how they feel it.

But lets not hide behind these scientific cop outs.

We are engaged in a legal, economically viable pastime, that we and others enjoy. It does no harm to humans, and using care and consideration for our quarry........c&R. rejuvenation etc. it can actually benefit the breed, and the ecosystem.

Not that this matters.

We fish because we enjoy it. It's legal. And that's all there is to it.

now thats what i missed when avid was recovering well spoken avid

Del from philly reply :

i cant beleive you guys let the "hole-punch story" fly......

FIN-S-R reply :

Got to admit, I could give a $#!# if they can feel anything or not, as long as they keep kickin till weigh in and get me paid.

BassHunter69 reply :

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Got to admit, I could give a $#!# if they can feel anything or not, as long as they keep kickin till weigh in and get me paid.

now thats more like it

guest reply :

YO Russ,

I'm sure we are all delighted to meet your latest lady love.

But.............and be honest now................

Who would you rather kiss.

Gwendolyn.

or....................(you know)

Bass Smacker reply :

Quote

Quote
Anyway, fish don't feel pain as we know it.

I see. And which of our piscatorial friends confirmed this bit of information?

As far as the mouth, lips, digestive tract of a bass being tough as nails, to that I have no doubt.

But what about when we hook em through the eye/ Think might hurt a tad?

As far the dharma queen spokesperson for all Buddhists. Please feel free to view her comments as if she were someone who read a few bible verses and posted a website announcing they were the messenger of His true word.

Let's get real ok? We can argue about scientific evidence and brain size, and gullet roughness and all that stuff. But why?

Are we afraid to acknowledge that we are involved in a blood sport because some squeamish types find it politically incorrect?

Nobody here is a fish so nobody here knows for sure what they feel or how they feel it.

But lets not hide behind these scientific cop outs.

We are engaged in a legal, economically viable pastime, that we and others enjoy. It does no harm to humans, and using care and consideration for our quarry........c&R. rejuvenation etc. it can actually benefit the breed, and the ecosystem.

Not that this matters.

We fish because we enjoy it. It's legal. And that's all there is to it.

Well said

10938

Do the hooks hurt the fish? 2024

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