Burp
 

nice someone was hungry

That's gonna take some surgery to get that plug back.

Nice one Nebe

With a bluefish that would be hopeless.

With a bass and barbless hooks they usually come out easier than you'd think.
Carry long nose pliers (Rapala makes a very good set), pop the top hook first, push the plug in a bit, reach down and get the bottom hook and twist and push. Often the bottom hook is not even engaged. Occasionally on smallish fish you have to go in from the side through the gill arch to get the bottom hook.

The only hard part is seeing the damn thing when you wear bifocals.

The other interesting thing about the picture (other than Nebe got a fish) is that the fish took the plug from behind. Probably means it hit a plug moving against the current and is an argument to keep tail hooks on your plugs (something I felt was unnecessary until recently).

These two tools I find indispensable, cheap, and combined do the job better than expensive pliers.

Always disconcerting when a medical professional posts a pic of his rusty instruments.....:grins:

[QUOTE=numbskull;865226]
The other interesting thing about the picture (other than Nebe got a fish) is that the fish took the plug from behind. Probably means it hit a plug moving against the current and is an argument to keep tail hooks on your plugs (something I felt was unnecessary until recently).
QUOTE]

I find that a lot of my fish that I catch on needles and redfins are taken from behind, already this season Ive had 4 fish, all around 17/18lbs take the plug from behind.

My theory is the fish is stalking/following a slow moving needle and when the plug is paused the fish inhales it from behind. I usually will pause my needles/redfins and thats when they seem to get crushed.

Nice fish Nebe.