Fish Hook Injuries

Topic Overview

Even if you fish carefully, you may get a fish hook in your skin. Fish hook injuries often occur when you remove a slippery, flopping fish from your line. Injury may also occur when you are casting a line, from another person casting a line, or if you walk barefoot near fishing gear. The chance of a fish hook injury increases if you are not familiar with fishing gear.

Most fish hook injuries puncture the skin of the face, scalp, fingers, back, or ears. Home treatment can help you remove a fish hook that is not too deep. It is important to clean the puncture wound to help prevent infection.

A fish hook can cause other problems if it enters the eye, muscles, tendons, ligaments, or bones. A fish hook injury is more serious when:

• A fish hook is in or near an eye.
• A barb cannot be removed using home treatment.
• Bleeding is severe or cannot be stopped.
• The wound is big enough to need stitches.
• Blood vessels, nerves, tendons, ligaments, joints, or bones are injured.
• Signs of infection develop, such as redness, swelling, or pus. A puncture from a fish hook is often dirty from marine bacteria, which increases the chance of a skin infection.
• Your tetanus immunization is not current.

Review the Emergencies and Check Your Symptoms sections to determine if and when you need to see a health professional.

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Author:	Jan Nissl, RN, BS	Last Updated: August 27, 2007
Medical Review:	William M. Green, MD - Emergency Medicine H. Michael O'Connor, MD - Emergency Medicine
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