Hooked a bass this evening and it was a dink. But i hooked it through the roof and i saw blood filling its eye. Never seen this happen. Did it get hooked in the brain or something. Hoping it will make it? i looked at the roof and a small dot of blood was at the hook entry point. 

Hard to tell but it's the risk you run in this sport. Do it long enough and you'll kill a big one on accident. Have a plan to either get a mount done or know someone that will eat it if you won't yourself so it doesn't go to waste. 

I hooked one through the eye not too long ago. Not much I could do but remove the hook and send him on his way and, to my knowledge, he survived.  I've had some that I've hooked so badly that there no option but to put him in the livewell, take him home, and clean him.

 

Most of the time, I'll drop the fish in the livewell.  If he's still kickin when I get back to the boat launch and i don't need any fish for the freezer, I'll release him there.

I think that most of us here on BR are conservationists when it comes to fishing and practice catch and release unless we need food or DNR asks for a cull. We try and do our best to protect marine life at all times.

 

That being said, things like this happen, but it's the circle of life. The turtles and the birds will be grateful for the meal.

Thanks. Yeah it is a brutal sport. Just was kind of shocked that his oe her eye was filling with blood when i hooked it in the roof.