How to Remove a Fish Hook From a Saltwater Catfish

Saltwater catfish are very similar to their freshwater cousins. The saltwater catfish, sometimes referred to as Hardhead catfish, have large mouths and lips where the hook on a fishing setup typically gets caught. Removing the hook from a saltwater catfish should be done with gloves, as the fish has stingers that deliver sharp stings. If catch-and-release fishing for this species, care should be taken to minimize damage to the fish when removing the hook.

• 1

  Put on your gloves and grip the catfish by slowly moving the gloved hand down the spines on the catfish, from the front of the fish.

• 2

  Grab the eye-screw portion of the hook with the needle-nose pliers and slowly begin feeding the bard and bend of the hook through the lip of the fish.

• 3

  Push the bend and barb through the lip where the catfish struck the hook. When the barb gets to the lip, quickly push it through.