What do you do if you catch a turtle? I always try to cut the line as close to hook as possible? Is there something else I can do? I feel bad about leaving hooks in turtles' faces but...

FS Digest

I always try to cut the line as close to hook as possible? Is there something else I can do? I feel bad about leaving hooks in turtles' faces but I can never get the hooks out without hurting the turtle.

--
by Kiwi7333

DCGravity Loc: Fairfax, VA (by way of Cleveland OH)

FS Digest wrote:

I always try to cut the line as close to hook as possible? Is there something else I can do? I feel bad about leaving hooks in turtles' faces but I can never get the hooks out without hurting the turtle.

--
by Kiwi7333

Depends on what kind of turtle you hook. Hasn't happened to me that often but in all cases I was bank fishing when the turtle took the lure and fairly close to shore. After landing the turtle, I flip it over to immobilize it somewhat, hold it down with my foot (lightly, of course) to immobilize it further, then extracted the hook with a needle nosed pliers. Snapping turtles though I have just cut the line as close to its mouth as possible!

flyguy Loc: Lake Onalaska, Sunfish Capitol of the World!

FS Digest wrote:

I always try to cut the line as close to hook as possible? Is there something else I can do? I feel bad about leaving hooks in turtles' faces but I can never get the hooks out without hurting the turtle.

--
by Kiwi7333

Make soup.

mistred64 Loc: Grayslake, illinois

flyguy wrote:

Make soup.

Flytier Loc: Wilmington Delaware

If you can manage, cut the barb off the hook. It will make life easier for both of you.

Grizzly 17 Loc: South central Pa

flyguy wrote:

Make soup.

You would 😂😂👍

Grizzly 17 Loc: South central Pa

I carry a very long pr of needle nose pliers with me

bapabear Loc: Blaine, Washington

No kidding! if legal and large enough, the turtle ends up on the dinner plate. Has not been a problem in Western Washington. For years now, I carry a wire cutters along with my needle nose pliers. I started doing that when cat fishing. Cut the hook in half. It will come right out of anything you want to release.

HenryG Loc: Falmouth Cape Cod Massachusetts

flyguy wrote:

Make soup.

😀👍

Pinegrove27

Make soup.

Jwid Loc: Lake Killarney, Ironton, MO

Hold the line tight, lift the turtle out of the water quickly and bounce it down into the water. Often the hook pops out. Otherwise, cut all the line off the hook.

bottomcoon Loc: Tahlequah, oklahoma

Flyguy & Pinegrove get the prize for the correct answer. That being said, I have pulled a few up to my boat while fishing in the Arkansas River & cut my line to distance myself from the beast. When those leatherback snappers get 30 pounds plus I don't want them in my boat or soup bowl. They get too dangerous & too tough.

HenryG Loc: Falmouth Cape Cod Massachusetts

bottomcoon wrote:

Flyguy & Pinegrove get the prize for the correct answer. That being said, I have pulled a few up to my boat while fishing in the Arkansas River & cut my line to distance myself from the beast. When those leatherback snappers get 30 pounds plus I don't want them in my boat or soup bowl. They get too dangerous & too tough.

My uncle's used to tell me to try to kill them in the Brooks I used to fish because they would eat there weight everyday in trout and anything else they want to eat I never killed one was to afraid of them things when I was a kid scary when your wading and all of a sudden a snappers head appears between your legs when you caught a fish you always cleaned it and put it in the creep you didn't want a stringer of fish hanging off of you in the stream and Brooks I fish growing up they had some HUGE SNAPPERS😵

Jwid Loc: Lake Killarney, Ironton, MO

For scale that is a railroad size timber.

bottomcoon Loc: Tahlequah, oklahoma

There are snapping turtles & alligator snapping turtles, look it up yourself. The alligator snapper has the appendage that he sticks out from his tongue to attract fish & they also get bigger than regular snappers.