Guys... I was getting a little fishing in today when I hooked what ended up being a 6 pounder.  I was using a shakeyhead with 4/0 wide gap and finess worm.  Got a good bite and swim-off... set the hook and though I missed it and hung a stick.  Dead weight reel in.  When I got it in it was dead as a doornail.  Can somebody tell me why and is this a common thing?  First time for me. 

I have never heard of one dying that quickly.  I know there are some big blood vessels in the tongue area of bass that I have heard if you stick one there they are pretty mud goners but never had what you experienced happen to me....

I've killed a couple dinks when the hook point went through their brains or spines on the hookset, but never one that size. You must have just hit the exact right (or wrong) spot. I wouldn't let it bug you too bad though, occasionally a fish you catch isn't going to make it no matter what you do. 

Never heard of such a thing.

That's crazy. Was he convulsing or twitching or anything. Or was he just totally dead.

That is crazy... definitely a fluke.

Definitely not a normal occurrence!

You had a one and a million chance that something weird happened . I wouldn't let it bother you continue fishing just strike it up as something crazy . 

Wow, never heard of something like this. Which spot did the hook go through?

That's a new one on me, too.

Very Strange, indeed

FISH KILLER!!!!  JK... In all my years of fishing, I've never heard of this nor seen it.   I know I've blinded in one eye a bunch of fish, makes me feel bad for the fish...  Did you take it home and fillet it?  No sense in wasting it...

I have never heard of one dying that quickly.  I know there are some big blood vessels in the tongue area of bass that I have heard if you stick one there they are pretty mud goners but never had what you experienced happen to me....

A tongue hooked fish won't die instantly. Could take hours to bleed out.

I've killed a couple dinks when the hook point went through their brains or spines on the hookset, but never one that size. You must have just hit the exact right (or wrong) spot. I wouldn't let it bug you too bad though, occasionally a fish you catch isn't going to make it no matter what you do. 

Yeah... not bugging me but just thought it was strange.

 

That's crazy. Was he convulsing or twitching or anything. Or was he just totally dead.

Nope... just locked up dead as dead can be.  Not even a gill moved when I got it to the boat.

 

Wow, never heard of something like this. Which spot did the hook go through?

Looked like the hook was in the roof of the mouth way in the back.  Possible I hit the brain pan.

 

FISH KILLER!!!!  JK... In all my years of fishing, I've never heard of this nor seen it.   I know I've blinded in one eye a bunch of fish, makes me feel bad for the fish...  Did you take it home and fillet it?  No sense in wasting it...

Yup... got two very nice fillets and served them up about 3 hours after I killed it.  Very fresh!!!!  Gave it a drizzle of Olive Oil... a sprinkling ot salt, pepper, rosemary, basil, and garlic.  With skin on... seared it on the skin side until it was cooked over half way through.  Throw a splash of lemon juice on top.  Flip it over just to complete the cooking.  AWESOME!!!!!

 

 

Yup... got two very nice fillets and served them up about 3 hours after I killed it.  Very fresh!!!!  Gave it a drizzle of Olive Oil... a sprinkling ot salt, pepper, rosemary, basil, and garlic.  With skin on... seared it on the skin side until it was cooked over half way through.  Throw a splash of lemon juice on top.  Flip it over just to complete the cooking.  AWESOME!!!!!

And now I'm hungry...

I know you are country strong Zoff, maybe just 1/2 bowl of Wheeties next time!!

Looked like the hook was in the roof of the mouth way in the back.  Possible I hit the brain pan.

 

 

Yeah, that probably explains the instant death.

 

Yup... got two very nice fillets and served them up about 3 hours after I killed it.  Very fresh!!!!  Gave it a drizzle of Olive Oil... a sprinkling ot salt, pepper, rosemary, basil, and garlic.  With skin on... seared it on the skin side until it was cooked over half way through.  Throw a splash of lemon juice on top.  Flip it over just to complete the cooking.  AWESOME!!!!!

 

Atleast you did that I know several that wouldnt even put that much effort into it and let it float. Good to hear he was a good meal atleast

Makes sense...The extra penetrating room of the wide gap probably made it easier to pierce the pan.

I wonder if a straight shank hook would have done the same...maybe not.

One in a million shot.

Mike

Yeah... not bugging me but just thought it was strange.

 

Nope... just locked up dead as dead can be.  Not even a gill moved when I got it to the boat.

 

Looked like the hook was in the roof of the mouth way in the back.  Possible I hit the brain pan.

 

Yup... got two very nice fillets and served them up about 3 hours after I killed it.  Very fresh!!!!  Gave it a drizzle of Olive Oil... a sprinkling ot salt, pepper, rosemary, basil, and garlic.  With skin on... seared it on the skin side until it was cooked over half way through.  Throw a splash of lemon juice on top.  Flip it over just to complete the cooking.  AWESOME!!!!!

 

 

More evidence of the MYTH that bass taste terrible. Glad you cleaned it and enjoyed it. Stuff happens, that's fishing. I've had them jump and hit the side of the boat dead as a rock, it happens. That's just another reason why everyone needs to learn to clean and cook fish, even if you are a 100% C&R bass fisherman. 

More evidence of the MYTH that bass taste terrible. Glad you cleaned it and enjoyed it. Stuff happens, that's fishing. I've had them jump and hit the side of the boat dead as a rock, it happens. That's just another reason why everyone needs to learn to clean and cook fish, even if you are a 100% C&R bass fisherman.

I always have bass in my freezer... Haha

More evidence of the MYTH that bass taste terrible. Glad you cleaned it and enjoyed it. Stuff happens, that's fishing. I've had them jump and hit the side of the boat dead as a rock, it happens. That's just another reason why everyone needs to learn to clean and cook fish, even if you are a 100% C&R bass fisherman. 

Bass is great! we never leave the skin on, but your recipe sounds good! sounds like something i'd do with grouper or tilapia since they're pretty mild.  we usually do a cornmeal coating, and fry it up.  baked with lemon, onions, and either olive oil or butter is pretty great too!

I had that happen with a 4lb a couple years ago. All the way to the boat it was like reeling in a wet towel. He was completely motionless even after I got hook out. I put him in the live well. When I got home and opened the well door he scared the crap out of me. He jumped all the way out and landed on the boat floor very much alive.

Never had that happen on a bass but I did hit one so hard once that it turned him inside out.  Reached thru his mouth and grabbed his tail then gave him a pop like a tube sock.  Watched him swim away, no bull

And now I'm hungry...

Time to do some dink management