How to Remove a Fishing Hook in the Hand

Barbed fishing hooks usually can be extracted without surgery.

A common challenge for many anglers is removing fishing hooks that get embedded in their skin. The face, back of the head, shoulders and hands are common areas that accidentally get hooked. Barbless hooks are fairly easy to remove and usually slide right out. But barbed hooks pose more of a challenge, since the sharp barb prevents the hook from exiting the skin without tissue damage. If your hook isn't severely embedded, you can dislodge it without surgery in minutes with a very simple string-yank technique.

Things You'll Need

• Fishing line

Instructions

1. Cut the line attached to the embedded fishing hook so that the hook is detached from your rod and reel. Cut a 2-foot section of fishing line running from you reel.

2. Loop the 2 feet of fishing line under the shaft of the embedded hook, close to the skin and up against the bend of the hook. Position the length of fishing line so that two equal lengths extend away from the embedded hook in the opposite direction from the hook eye.

3. Check to ensure that the lengths of line looped under the hook bend are extending in the opposite direction of the shaft of the embedded hook so that if you were to pull on the lengths of fishing line you would be pulling against the bend of the hook. Locate the hook eye, where the fishing line was tied, and push it down against the skin.

4. Apply a quick, forceful, tug on the fishing line while pushing the hook eye down against the skin. The hook will slide out of the puncture wound with little or no additional skin damage.

Tips & Warnings

• Always carry a simple first-aid kit with you while fishing.

• After the hook is removed, apply a local antiseptic and cover with a protective bandage.

References

• "Fishing for Dummies"; Peter Kaminsky; 1997
• American Family Physician: Fishhook Removal