I'm C&R bluefish today when someone approachs me and ask if he can have the next fish. "Sure",I said "but your going to have to unhook it yourself". I landed this large blue, he then steps on the blue and puts his finger in its mouth to remove the plug. I immediately pryed the jaw with pliers so he can remove his bloody finger.
I said "you can lose your finger to these fish". He shows me the same hand and sure enough there is a finger missing due to a bandsaw accident. I said "your lucky you may of had two missing. He was unaware of the teeth of the blue. The finger was cut slightly and bandaged. He was still happy that I gave him fish and his wife and him thanked me.
I felt guilty because he was a good guy but who would knew that he was going to but his fingers in the jaws.

Ouch, how was his other hand? :)

five whole digits

dont feel guilty.. you did him a favor.. you taught him the number one lesson in fishing. "if you don't know anything about it, don't stick your hand in it's mouth."

Hey Ticket,
Why dild you make him unhook it? Just curious. Could have saved him some hurting if you would have unhooked it.

DZ

Once the fish was landed he placed his foot on the blue but the plug was on the other side so I asked him to flip it over. My instinct realized the danger and I was ready with the pliers thinking that it was changed to a joint effort him with foot on blue me with pliers.
Guess I should have told him my intent but he was to quick.
Once the blue shuts down on a finger and if you don't open the jaws immediately you can say good-bye.

I was all talk but I was there to help but to late.
If he is happy so am I.