Never had this happen before.

Last night, fishing eels on Gama 7/0 circles, I got slammed and within 2 seconds was watching line peel off the reel.

I have read all the "eeling" 101 threads on here and all about "how long is too long" to wait for hook up, etc.

The scenario was:

Cast, eel hit the water, rod pointing up at that awesome moon, put the line under the roller on my VS. Immediate very hard "whack". I didn't even have time to point the rod at the fish. It almost pulled the rod down and started peeling off line.

I was concerned that it may be just an outer lip hooked fish so I went easy on the battle. After a decent battle, I reached down and grabbed the fish by the jaw and was shocked and saddened to see she was gut hooked.

Two questions - is this common while fishing the surf? Never seen it from the boat and I'm still a self admitted newbee in the suds. Maybe something to do with the angle??

Will a gut hooked fish live? I spent almost 15 minutes trying to revive her and every time I let go of her, she went belly up? I would take her back and work her around, she'd bite down on my thumb pretty hard and make a slight push with here tail, but would always go belly up.

I didn't want to chance just letting her go to waste, so I laid her on the beach while I fished out the tide.

When I cleaned her, I wanted to see what she'd been eating so I gutted her. I noticed that the hook had only penetrated here throat lining and didn't hit an organs? Could she survived? Her gut was totally empty - maybe the reason for such aggression on the take.

I am a huge fan of catch and release but not devout. I'll occasionally keep one for the grill but not over 36" or so. I have no problem with other's ideals regarding keeping vs releasing. Just curios if I could have done something different to prevent killing this fish.

Sorry for the lousy photo - cell pic.

Sorry, couldn't upload photo on original for some reason.

Thats a damn nice fish. What did she weigh in at? I cant say for sure like anyone else, but the fish probably would have lived with the hook in her if she was in better shape after the fight. While using circles, its not guarantees that your going to get a lip, Ive had many that have swallowed it. The only thing i would have done different is brought her in more quickly. I try to get them in as quick as possible, but that's a big fish and i would have felt the shoulders and not rushed it too much. With a fish that big, if the hook was only in the stomach a little bit it is usually possible to take the hook out. I have cut the line and reversed the hook out, pulling the eye out of the hole, not the barbed end. Its easier on a big fish since its pie hole is big enough to get your hand in there. But that is a moot point if she is in bad shape. Congrats on the big fish, you tried your best to revive her and it didnt work. Things happen.

You were late on the hook set. Its like jiggin in a bass pond.... tap tap and she's on. Nice fish for an out of towner... :rotf2:

Thanks Rob - she was 43.5 inches and 31 lbs.

I had about a mile and a half walk back to car. I was sure she was a 40 after carrying her that far. I'm still sore....

Nice one i thought she was bigger. I was thinkin closer to 50" not knowing how tall you are.

You were late on the hook set.

The truth of the matter is. it happens at times, no matter how short / long your drop back. If the hook gets below the crusher, it will still do it's job and just hook the corner of the gullet instead of the mouth.

Fish that sized, medium eel or especially squid, just inhale it. you may not have felt it until she turned away from you...

Things happen. The majority of my fishing consists of slingging Eels. If she was that aggressive, there was nothing you could do.. Other than cutting the line, and leaving the hook, you did the correct thing. I to am a catch a release fisherman. I get more joy out of seeing them swim off.. Best of luck for the rest of the season.

THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME REGARDLESS OF THE HOOK TYPE.Just reach down and push the hook free.If your lower arm gets scratched from the mouth put Bag Balm on your scratches to keep from geting an infection.Ifind it easyer with a --J--hook rather than a circle hook