Hook Size to catch a 4 inch Hippo

[Ldesp]

So I am trying to catch a Hippo Tang, I have tried...

Netting not possible the fish dives into the rock work whenever a net goes into the tank.

2 different fish traps, one purchased one home made the hippo does not get anywhere near them.

While sleeping, does not work as the hippo sleeps too deep in the rock work.


That brings me to my question. I am going to try a line and hook but I am not sure what hook size I use for a 4 inch hippo tang. Can someone give me some info using a hook and line. I know I should snip the barbs off the hook but anymore advice would be great.

Thanks,

 

[username in use]

i got some fly hooks from my brother in law for the same fish same size. I forget the exact size, but they were small, the number was in the 20's, I want to say 26, but somehwere around there.

 

[Butterz]

You can just buy the hooks barbless as well. Just in case you have to do some more fishing later on.

 

[Ldesp]

i got some fly hooks from my brother in law for the same fish same size. I forget the exact size, but they were small, the number was in the 20's, I want to say 26, but somehwere around there.

Thanks for the responses. I will see what I can get here at the shop. Did you use a rod or just some line and your finger?

 

[Ldesp]

You can just buy the hooks barbless as well. Just in case you have to do some more fishing later on.

good idea. =)

 

[hfleming]

I am interested to see how this turns out. Keep us posted

 

[Mako]

I have used a Sabiki rig before with good results. I trimmed the barbs off the hooks with dykes to allow for easier removal of the fish.

 

[username in use]

I just used line on my finger and baited it with some mysis. The tiny fly hooks are so small that you can just bend t he barb back flush with the shank, and it takes care of it.

 

[mcoomer]

I would take a trip to a fly fishing shop and get some hooks. The will have tiny dry fly hooks that you want and they'll have them without barbs. I know that you can pinch a barb over and be OK with the game warden but if you can rub your finger over the barb and still feel it's profile you might still injure your fish, particularly one with a tiny mouth. While you're in the shop pick up some leader material, very fine monofilament, and just wrap it around your finger with some mysis on the hook. BTW...don't try to take the fish off the hook. With a barbless hook and a fish that small, carefully grab the eye of the hook with a pair of hemostats, hold the fish and hook under water, and then slowly turn the hook eye down so that the fish simply slides off. Very quick release and will save the slime coat from handling. Be sure to strap into your fighting chair.

Mike

 

[jbird69]

I have done this several times to remove fish from my tank. A #22 is the biggest hook you can get away with. Use some hemostats or needlenose to pinch the barb. Hooks this small can be hard to come by, especially the barbless versions if you dont live in an area that has full flyfishing service shops. You will need very fine mono to thread the hook. like 2#. Put a loop around your finger like suggested. Have a small bucket ready with tank water, once you hook him, quickly transfer him to the bucket and give him slack on the line. He will simply spit out the barbless hook without you having to do any thing.

Mysis can be very dificult to get on a hook, I would suggest krill or squid.

 

[dwd5813]

you guys are forgetting a very important piece of equipment for this expedition. a videocamera!! :lol: i wanna see someone fishing in their tank

good luck.

 

[Ldesp]

I live in Macau China and do not know of any specialty fly fishing shops. I am going to hit up the regular fishing shops tomorrow however to see what I can find as far as the smallest hooks they got.

I can try setting up my digital camera to record but the memory card on that thing wont last long. Hopefully the fish will just jump on the hook right away =)

I plan to skip feeding breakfast so that when I get back in the afternoon from the shop with hook and line the hippo should be hungry.

anyhow fingers crossed.

 

[asonitez]

Caught a Lunar Wrass like this before. I used a childs fishing pole. I even used a bobber - My Fiance thought it was halarious. Its not as bad as when I was using a fish trap to catch a bi-color angel in my reef. I was dressed in black sitting on the floor reaaaaaaaaaaaaal still waiting for it to go in after the softy and sps coral i put in the trap. My Fiance thought this was funny too.

 

[username in use]

if you cant find what you need in a shop, check out cabellas.com. They have everything.

 

[Ldesp]

Caught a Lunar Wrass like this before. I used a childs fishing pole. I even used a bobber - My Fiance thought it was halarious. Its not as bad as when I was using a fish trap to catch a bi-color angel in my reef. I was dressed in black sitting on the floor reaaaaaaaaaaaaal still waiting for it to go in after the softy and sps coral i put in the trap. My Fiance thought this was funny too.

hahaha sounds just like me. The trap and all black ninja outfit do seem to work if I was wanting to catch my chromis but they are not the target. The hippo just doesnt like the trap at all so I gave up on sneaking around in all black :lmao:

 

[BigandUgly]

Don't forget to use a steel leader. You don't want your trophy catch getting away...

 

[Dutch06]

Don't forget to use a steel leader. You don't want your trophy catch getting away...

Hilarious.

 

[Fisher72]

go to a fly shop and get a #28 along with 10x tippet, I've done this many times and works well.

 

[teeteeplz]

how much of a risk is there of harming the fish by removing them this way?

 

[bsharding1982]

how much of a risk is there of harming the fish by removing them this way?

I was wondering the excact same thing.