Chris V

I was talking about this with an elderly woman here in the shop a few weeks ago so I thought with all of garbo's mindscrambling topics I would see what responses I could get out of fellow fish murderers.

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RiVerRaT

It must hurt....they keep spiting mine out :hoppingmad :banghead

:letsdrink

konz

I've been faced with that question before. I read an article once that said if a hook hurt a fish they would swim towards the pressure and not away from it. I say that they are to damn dumb to do so and the survival instict kicks in and that's why they try to escape.

If I had to guess.......yes it probably stings a little......hahaha

bluffman2

i personally dont think it does, BUT i bet that gaff sure does

Wharf Rat

Gotta figure they're eating pinfish, crabs and other objects with sharp, pointy spines or claws. That hook is just another pinfish prick to them.

bamasam

The hook only stings a little bit.....Its that cold hard fillet knife that really hurts them :shedevil

Chris V

I had a treehugger come in the shop about 2 years ago and start to look around and look genuinely interested in fishing. I asked her if she needed help and she said "oh no I just wanted to see what its about". I asked her if she meant fishing in general and she responded " the torture of animals for sport". Needless to say we had some words with each other but I still get a laugh out of her last; "You know those hooks hurt them".

I said "Maam if that makes them fight harder I'll put two hooks in that son of a b#@ch!"

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Evensplit

Iworried so muchthat the hooks were hurting the fish that I quit using them. Switched to spearfishing instead.:shedevil

reelfinatical

Ask PETA.... They told me fish are smarter than dogs.. I gave them the finger!

From a link on their website: "Anatomically, physiologically and biologically, the pain system in fish is virtually the same as in birds and mammals. Neurobiologists have long recognized that fish have nervous systems that comprehend and respond to pain" ..... & they go on & on... "According to Dr. Michael Fox, D.V.M, Ph.D., Even though fish don't scream [audibly to humans] when they are in pain and anguish, their behavior should be evidence enough of their suffering when they are hooked or netted. They struggle, endeavoring to escape and, by so doing, demonstrate they have a will to survive."
- FishingHurts.com

atlantacapt

I have a degree in zoology. Hooks DO NOT hurt fish. Fish do not have pain receptors as we humans do. They can feel pressure, but not pain.

If someone threw out a hamburger with a hook in it, which way would you run? towards the pressure or away? I think that sums it up pretty well.