Yesterday I accidentally gut hooked a fish because I was too busy teaching a coworker about bass fishing. After I landed the fish I spent a good amount of time working on the fish and removing the hook. I used the gill method for the first time and it actually worked. I know for a fact that when I finally revived that fish it swam away somewhat healthy. Do you think spending the time getting the hook out is worth it if the fish happens to die because it was out of the water too long? Or would you rather cut the line and hope it lives?  I would rather get the hook out and give the fish a shot to live. Also what happens if you gut hook a bass and it dies and it was under the slot limit? 

I think the hook right in the middle of the throat will greatly lessen the chance of survival. It just matter of time it starve to death. So for the reason, I always try to remove the hook. I would dip the fish in the water in my net so that it can get some oxygen if I have to take a bit longer time to remove the hook.

 

Using pinched barb hook will make removing the hook so easy, even if they were gut hooked. The most of the time, I can remove the hook with one twist of my wrist in one sec. The joy of fishing increased after I started doing this. As long as you keep your line tight, you don't loose much fish because of this.

I try to get the hook out. If I cannot without significant damage, I will cut the line and hope for the best.

 

What I'd like to do is get a long pair of needle nose pliers so I can mash the barb if it is in the throat, then remove it with less damage.

 

Most of the time I can remove hooks without issue, though.

 Also what happens if you gut hook a bass and it dies and it was under the slot limit? 

 

To be clear, a slot length limit prevents anglers from keeping fish within a certain size range. For example, if the slot for bass is 13 to 18 inches, bass between 13 and 18 inches must be returned to the water. A fish under the slot limit is legal to keep. For a slot limit to be effective, fish under the limit should be removed. If the fish is under a minimum size limit, it must be thrown back even if it has died.

To be clear, a slot length limit prevents anglers from keeping fish within a certain size range. For example, if the slot for bass is 13 to 18 inches, bass between 13 and 18 inches must be returned to the water. A fish under the slot limit is legal to keep. For a slot limit to be effective, fish under the limit should be removed. If the fish is under a minimum size limit, it must be thrown back even if it has died.

I tournament fish so I understand slot limits. I meant to say in the slot limit or under the creel limit , twas a typo.