Turtles: If you catch a turtle how do you handle it and get the hook out and release it?

mistred64 Loc: Grayslake, illinois

If you catch a turtle how do you handle it and get the hook out and release it?

D Tong Loc: San Francisco,Ca

I usually have a pair of needle nose pliers with me so if I am able I’ll try to get hold of the hook and cut it and pull it out

I had this happen twice to me

mistred64 Loc: Grayslake, illinois

That's what I figured. Does the turtle swim away seemingly unharmed like a fish not hooked deep?

OJdidit Loc: Oak Creek Wisconsin

mistred64 wrote:

That's what I figured. Does the turtle swim away seemingly unharmed like a fish not hooked deep?

Typically, yes

Jim Kay Loc: Franklin, Virginia

Turtles are tricky because of their hard bite but they are hardy and should be alright

Seegundo Loc: Lake s minole Georgia

I use a long handled pair of needle nosed pliers lol keba mechanics pair or the ones you use for saltwater. If hooked too deep I cut the line. The hook will eventually be disolved or the turtle will dialogue it. Don't let them bite down on you they can break a finger. Especially alligator turtles.

Passingbye Loc: Reidsville NC

mistred64 wrote:

If you catch a turtle how do you handle it and get the hook out and release it?

Don't stick your finger too close to its mouth, my grandpa had the tip of him thumb but off, step on the shell and with long handled needle nosed plyers, grab ahold of the hook itself and with wire cutters, nip the barbed point off and remove. Chunk the thing back into the water.

Papa Jack Loc: Indianapolis

mistred64 wrote:

If you catch a turtle how do you handle it and get the hook out and release it?

I have only caught one turtle. I actually snagged him in the foot. He was a big fellow and not very happy. Fortunately it was in a rear foot and I was able to remove the hook without much trouble. He swam off and I went back to fishing. I thought I still had a picture but that’s not the case.

Harris T. Fudpucker Loc: Lafayette, Louisiana

Setting out noodles, I do catch a few, some big, some are throw backs. I just cut the line if I can't get the hook out, sometimes they swallow it deep.

Jim Kay Loc: Franklin, Virginia

Papa Jack wrote:

I have only caught one turtle. I actually snagged him in the foot. He was a big fellow and not very happy. Fortunately it was in a rear foot and I was able to remove the hook without much trouble. He swam off and I went back to fishing. I thought I still had a picture but that’s not the case.

I once snagged a 10" Snapping Turtle in the front foot with a 1/2 oz. johnson Silver Minnow. Since this was close to his business end, I decided to think on how best to remove it. I cut the line and placed the turtle in an empty cooler and continued fishing. While fishing, I kept hearing some clunking and banging in the cooler. I later checked on him and found the turtle at one end of the cooler and my spoon bent in a "U" shape at the other end so all I hd to do was dump the cooler.

Seegundo Loc: Lake s minole Georgia

Those big soft shells are good meat.

HenryG Loc: Falmouth Cape Cod Massachusetts

Passingbye wrote:

Don't stick your finger too close to its mouth, my grandpa had the tip of him thumb but off, step on the shell and with long handled needle nosed plyers, grab ahold of the hook itself and with wire cutters, nip the barbed point off and remove. Chunk the thing back into the water.

When I was young learning to fish with dad and uncles for trout in small streams we would come across snapping turtles all the time my uncles would always kill them saying they would eat their weight in trout everyday.Never knew if it was really true but saw some nasty looking turtles in my days nothing worst than wading in the stream and have the head of a 40lb snapper come up between your legs makes you think 🇺🇸🎣😂👍

Jwid Loc: Lake Killarney, Ironton, MO

If the turtle isn’t too big or your rig is heavy enough. Bounce the turtle on the surface of the water. Often I find that is enough to dislodge the hook. Otherwise, I usually cut the line as close to the hook as possible.