Not that long ago, there was quite the scandal when a gentleman formerly renowned as a “big bass specialist” was accused (quite compellingly, and I’ll leave it at that) of foul hooking fish. But what is “a foul hooked fish” exactly, and why was this such a scandal?
Foul hooking, or “snagging” is when you hook a fish anywhere but it’s mouth. In most states, it is illegal to intentionally attempt to do this. In many states (and in most professional and amateur fishing tournaments) it’s illegal to keep any fish that is foul hooked, even if the foul hooking was accidental.
Let’s explore the topic some more so you don’t get accused of foul hooking fish purposefully and land yourself in hot water.
First Thing’s First
I just want to make it clear – I frown on foul hooking fish intentionally. I don’t view it as sporting or challenging and it’s not something I recommend you rush out and try. Not only is it flat out illegal in many places, but it’s also unnecessarily cruel to the fish, in my opinion. The guy who was in the center of that scandal got everything he deserved, as far as I am concerned.
Having said that, it is still legal in some areas, and for some species, and part of my charge here on this website is to help you out with catching fish by any legal means. While it’s not the way I choose to fish, it’s really not my place to judge how you legally use the fishing license you paid for. Even so, my intention in this article is to educate you both on what foul hook fishing is, and to try to convince you to avoid it and catch them in a more sporting way, even if foul hooking a fish is legal in your home waters.
Fair enough? Then read on.
How Do People Foul Hook Fish?
Where it is legal (and that is rapidly shrinking), folks try to foul hook fish where they are congregated in a tight area. This makes sense since you aren’t really trying to attract a fish to your hook, but to snag them with one.
Usually, folks will choose a “sticky” hook like a treble hook weighted with some sort of sinker to allow for long casts. The lure is then aggressively retrieved through the water with a series of hooksets and a fast retrieve. It can look very similar to the retrieve of a jerkbait, without the jerkbait!
Does Foul Hooking Hurt Fish?
Yes, foul hooking hurts or at least injures fish. You’re stabbing them with a hook in a place they aren’t normally poked. The process is indiscriminate, and you have no way of knowing if you’re about to jab them in an eye, fin, gut, or gill. I really can’t stress enough how bad of an idea this is for the fishery, even if it is legal.
Foul hooking is essentially wounding a fish in an area they aren’t met to be wounded. While you could make an argument that any hook is going to hurt a fish, much of their prey species have spines that are just as capable of jabbing them, and do (frequently) in their mouths. So at least being jabbed in the mouth is somewhat “normal.” Foul hooked fish, on the other hand, are the exception and it can be catastrophic.
Even if the entry wound doesn’t look that bad, removing it could badly injure a fish. For example, a fish foul hooked through the tail fins might not seem mortal, but what if you rip the tail to shreds trying to remove the hook? Chaos!
Can You Tell If You’ve Foul Hooked a Fish If It’s In the Water?
If you fish long enough, you’ll foul hook a fish or two by accident. You’ll have a pretty good idea it happened, too, as you might have a giant fight on your hands. This is because you can’t easily turn the head of a fish you haven’t hooked in the mouth! I’ve foul hooked a few carp in my life by accident and they are significantly harder to land than one hooked in the mouth.
Is Foul Hooking a Fish Illegal?
An overwhelming majority of states have outright outlawed snagging any sort of game fish and the few that still allow it have significant exceptions (for example, it’s usually confined to very specific species and very specific areas). Many more will allow rough fish to be snagged, but you’d better be darned certain what fish your state considers “rough.”
Mississippi is the only state that currently allows snagging of fish without regulation (other than a closed season). Here is the law as written:
Snagging (taking of fish through the use of the handheld pole and attached line with one single or one treble fish hook no larger than #2) for fish is allowed statewide. Snagging is closed on waters noted in #3 of this regulation during November 1 through May 31. Snagged fish are those that are hooked in any other part of the body except the mouth/head, including, but no further back than the gill covers.” (source).
Always, always, always consult your CURRENT fishing rules and regulations and remember that they do, on occasion, change from year to year. Also, bear in mind that there probably isn’t great public support for snagging fish, and the press it has gotten in recent years (such as that scandal I mentioned) make it likely to have even less in the future. I wouldn’t be surprised to see more states outlaw the practice completely.
It Can Be Illegal to Keep an Accidentally Foul Hooked Fish
Even if you accidentally catch a fish by snagging it, it might be illegal to keep. For example, Vermont law states: “3.3 A person shall not take any fish pursuant to subsection (3.2) unless it is hooked in the mouth. Any fish taken under subsection (3.2) that is not hooked in the mouth shall be immediately released pursuant to 10 V.S.A. § 4602.” (source).
You’ll want to check your own state’s regulations and possibly consult your local game warden if you are unsure about the letter of the law.
Is a Fish Hooked on the Outside of the Mouth Considered Foul Hooked?
Now this is a great question. Sometimes when you’re fishing with a treble hook lure such as a jerk bait, a fish will clearly commit to attacking it, but won’t quite get the lure in its mouth before getting stuck. In this case, is the fish foul hooked, or is it a legitimate catch? In short, this varies. You’re going to need to check out your local fishing regulations, and they could change at the whim of the legislature, so make sure you check each year.
If you’re a tournament angler, you can’t stop there. You also have to check the rules for your tournament, as they differ. For example, the Bassmaster Elite Series has this to say about if a fish hooked outside the mouth is foul hooked:
“When visually fishing for bedding bass, to be counted as a legal fish, each bass must be hooked
inside the mouth. With the fish’s mouth closed naturally, you must not be able to see where the
hook point enters the fish for it to be considered hooked inside the mouth.” (source).
Note that they make the distinction for visually fishing for bedding bass.
Major League Fishing makes the same distinction:
“All bass caught while sight-fishing must be hooked inside the mouth and immediately shown to your co-angler or pro for verification.” (source).
While these two national tournaments are fairly consistent, you should always check your local regulations.
How to Avoid Foul Hooking a Fish?
Look, you’re accidentally going to snag a fish from time to time and there’s not a lot you can do about it. Sure, you could use lures like spinnerbaits or circle hooks that make foul hooking fish very unlikely, but it still could happen under the right conditions. If it does, remove the hook gently and release the fish as safely as possible.
As long as you don’t go too crazy with the hook removal, fish will usually be fine if you accidentally foul hook them. There’s no need to kill them or “put them out of their misery” unless they’re clearly not going to make it – fish are a resilient bunch. Just remove the hook with as little force as possible an get them back into the water as fast as possible so they can start to heal.
What About that Fish Scandal I Mentioned?
To be completely honest, while I read all about the scandal I haven’t kept up with the aftermath, if there were legal consequences, or if charges were beat. I also note that the original article from SDFish.com no longer seems to exist, though I’m unsure why. Anyway, I’m not looking to stir anything up I shouldn’t. However, for those of you who are so inclined, here’s an article from bassmaster.com talking about the scandal. Give it a gander, and try to avoid being the subject of one yourself someday!
In Case I Haven’t Been Perfectly Clear…
Look folks, even where it’s legal for fish to be foul hooked, it’s still unsporting and dumb. I and countless others have put so much time and effort into helping you all catch fish in conventional fashions – please stick to them. It’s much more sporting and fun to actually hook a fish in the mouth than to snag them, and it’s better for the fish. While I suppose an argument can always be made that jabbing a fish anywhere with a hook is “bad” it’s absolutely less bad to stab them the same place a perch spine does than in their eye, gill, fin, or stomach.
I really hope this article was educational and helped you understand why foul hooking fish is such a bad idea. If you have any questions please feel free to drop me an email and we can talk it through. Also note that if you’re really not sure how to catch a fish without snagging it, the books below my signature would be a great help!
Thanks,
John Paxton
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