Can a fish digest a hook if it swallows it?
YES, A FISH CAN DIGEST A HOOK IN SOME CIRCUMSTANCES. If the fish has swallowed the hook, the best thing to do is cut your line as close to the fish as possible without taking the fish out of the water. The fish has a much better chance of survival if you do this. The fish will likely digest the hook in a week or two. If you must touch the fish for any reason, wet your hands first. This helps to preserve the protective slime on the body of the fish. Failure to wet your hands may result in removing the slime resulting in the fish becoming infected with a fungus or other disease after release.
