Posted by tom bishop on July 6, 2007

Q: I just recently caught a 38 inch muskie here in wisconsin. it was greenish colored with dark stripes running along its sides. seeing as how we neither had a net, or even an anchor to hold us steady, we decided to let it go. unfortunantly, while trying to free the hook, the fish thrashed around, freeing the hook, and cutting up part of its gum ripping out a single tooth about a half an inch long. i would like to know how resilient muskie can be, and whether or not this muskie could survive. Also, how dangerous is the oil from someone's skin to a fish?

Habitat: pond/lake

State: Wisconsin

Habitat: pond/lake

A: Lucky you to have caught this great fish! Although your fish did suffer some damage as it thrashed about, it most likely will heal up quickly. Fish living in a healthy environment (not polluted waters) have great powers of healing and your fish should even be able to replace its lost tooth - fish are quite resilient. I think the oil from your hands or removal of the fish's oil (mucous covering) are probably a bigger issue than damage to its mouth. Again though, if the fish is healthy, it should do alright. I'm sure you've read about fishermen being cautioned to handle fish carefully to avoid removing the mucous covering they have. Whenever handling a fish, always have wet, not dry, hands as this greatly reduces any damage that might occur to a fish's skin.

Thanks for writing and let's hope the next time you catch a Muskie, you have your net onboard.

John Wiessinger ( July 6, 2007)