After my hook experience Thought I would share a few idea. Basically copied from the net, but these are the things I would try both on the boat and at work. If done quickly the string method is by far the simplest, and as mentioned is surprisingly painless. I dont routinely use local for this, but its not that flash with trebles, as the other points can also do damage. One way to overcome this, is to cut the other points off leaving something that looks like a single hook.

An essential tool on a boat/fishing is a plier (either fishing or normal) with a strong enough cutting edge to cut hooks. I have a side cutter on the boat for this and other uses, but it is overkill.

My edits are in { }

How to remove a fishing hook from a human, painlessly and safelyUsing this hook removal method, there is one common factor - the almost complete, and surprising, lack of any pain.

 

One day it happens to all anglers. A hook does it job and hooks up, but not into a fish. It hooks up in you or one of your fishing partners.

Removing a hook embedded over the barb, but not back out through the skin, is relatively easy:

First

Make a loop about 10cm (6") long, in strong line, 10kg (20lb) plus, and pass it over the eye of the hook, and then up to the top of the bend of the hook. {I use very strong line here, if the line breaks all hell happens - so use overkill}

Then

Push firmly down on the eye of the hook so the eye of the hook touches the skin. {I tend to push a little down and forward, thus disengaging the barb}

Finally

With a sudden, strong yank on the line loop, pull up and away from the hook-eye. The hook should come out the way it went in, and because it will curve out the same way it went in the barb should not catch.

It is very important to follow 'Step 1' to the letter if pain and discomfort is to be avoided. Most importantly the loop of line must be at the top of the hook bend, and the pull must be up and away.
Way too many articles on this method advise having the line at the back of the bend, and pulling straight back - this will only result in the barb catching and causing pain. {agree - pull up and away}

Another method is the push through that I had to perform on myself. This isnt as flash as above, but if the hook is deeply embedded it is almost the only choice on a boat or trip. If you can get in to a doc then I would as this is traumatic, and infection risk increases. In the surgery setting local anaesthetic is essential, on a boat ice or a bit off booze might be all you have.

Ice the exit area (I dont know it this works truely, but at least the victim thinks it does)

Then with a sturdy pliers push the hook through with as sharp a motion as possible ( just like ripping a plaster off skin, the quicker the less pain is perceived). It is painful.

Next cut the barb off, or otherwise, cut the eye off. Pick which ever is going to make the removal easiest, but always try and pull the bit that has already been through the skin back out the way she went in. That way you dont introduce more bugs than whats allready there.

It is then reletively easy to remove the hook, either drawing it back along the path it went in, or (not so good), pull it out from the barb end.

Important - if you have any disinfectant with you liberally use this to try and clean the area, but if it is going to cause pain like alcohol, Mercurochrome (old crap) etc, pass until the hook is out. The quicker the hook is removed the less pain. Ie do it before the body start to release pain chemicals. The more we think about it, the more it hurts.

DONT FORGET YOUR TETANUS STATUS - even if the hook is out, these are tetanus prone wounds and if not up to date go and see the Doc.

INFECTION: surprise surprise but they often DONT get infected, and I would wait to see what happens rather than just giving antibiotics. Using antibiotic at the start can kill off the less nasty bugs, and select resistant organisms. It is best to wait and see, and if it does become infected, then get some help with antibiotics.

My wound happened saturday, no Antibiotic so far and all is healing nicely.

 

Hope this helps in this nasty circumstance, because a hook up to a non fish isnt as much fun as a fish, and can ruin a trip. Scrape up some courage and go the string. That causes very little if any pain.

Cheers

 

Neels