I see it all the time on the boats. An angler gets bit and here comes the big swing, and… it’s usually a miss. At which point someone in the peanut gallery chimes in, “Nice swing, [insert TV bass fisherman name here]!” Things are a little different out on the ocean. Most of the species we fish for don’t nibble. Either they bite or they don’t. The big swing typically only yanks the hook out of your prey’s mouth. If they’re already stuck, you open a hole where the hook is set, to make it easier for the fish to shake your hook during the fight.
If you’ve ever had a hook come flying back toward the boat when an angler reacts to a fish’s strike, you know how strong the urge is to set the hook. Though it’s not widely known, there’s a reason many captains insist that anglers reel tight — instead of yanking hard — when live-bait fishing with circle or J hooks. Let me explain why.
In most scenarios, reeling tight to a fish generates a stronger hook-set than a full-muscled yank. A steady retrieve often leads the hook to the corner of the mouth — more secure and more harmless than gut hooking. Still, don’t allow the fish too much time with the bait to prevent swallowing. Even if a fish misses the presentation initially, second-chance opportunities favor the patient angler. Plus, today’s hooks are incredibly sharp right out of the package.
