Fishhook Injuries: Risks Associated with Recreational Fishing & Techniques for Removing

Fishing is a recreational sport and recreational activity that has been in practice for many years. For some fisherman, fishing is an opportunity to relax and unwind from a busy and hectic life while, for others, fishing is a sport or a way in which to earn a living.

Whatever your focus or purpose for fishing, all fishermen are at risk for suffering from a common fishing injury known as fishhook injury. While not considered a serious or life threatening injury, fishhook injuries, when not treated properly, can lead to complications in the long term.

When suffering from a fishhook injury, it is best to avoid removing the fishhook without professional assistance. Because the location of the fishhook, the depth to which it penetrated the skin, and even the type of fishhook, all play a key role in the method by which the fishhook is removed, a healthcare professional should evaluate and make the removal.

As a general rule, there are four ways in which to remove a fishhook. These fishhook removals include techniques known as retrograde, needle cover, advance and cut, and string-yank. Of these fishhook removal techniques, the retrograde and string-yank are often the simplest to perform but, of these, the retrograde often fails.

In the more advanced fishhook removal techniques, known as the needle cover or the advance and cut, anesthesia is usually required as the procedure is more invasive.

Once your physician has assessed the fishhook placement, and made a determination as to what procedure is best for removal, the process of removing the fishhook will begin. In many cases, you can expect there will be some degree of tissue damage attributed to the fishhook injury.