Overview

Even if you fish carefully, you may get a fishhook in your skin. A fishhook is a curved, sharp tool placed on a lure or line to catch fish. Some fishhooks have a barb near the tip that keeps the fish on the hook. You can also use a barbless fishhook. It may reduce the chance of a fishhook injury.

Fishhook injuries often occur when you remove a slippery, flopping fish from your line. Injury may also occur when you cast a line, when another person casts a line, or if you walk barefoot near fishing gear. The chance of a fishhook injury rises if you aren't familiar with fishing gear.

Most fishhook injuries puncture the skin of the face, scalp, fingers, back, or ears. Remove a fishhook that isn't too deep. It's important to clean the puncture wound well to help prevent infection.

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

• A fishhook is in or near an eye.
• A barb can't be removed using home treatment.
• Bleeding is severe or can't be stopped.
• The wound is big enough to need stitches.
• Blood vessels, nerves, tendons, ligaments, joints, or bones are injured. Injuries to these areas may cause:
  • Numbness or tingling.
  • Pale, white, blue, or cold skin.
  • Decreased ability to move the area.
• Signs of infection develop, such as redness, swelling, or pus. A puncture from a fishhook is often dirty from marine bacteria. This increases the chance of a skin infection.
• Your tetanus shot isn't current.

Self-Care

Caring for a fishhook injury

Here are things you can do at home to care for a fishhook injury.

• Stop the bleeding.

  Wash your hands, and then put pressure on the wound for 15 minutes.

• Remove the fishhook if you can.

  You may need to cut the fishing line and apply ice to numb the area. Then see if the barb is in the skin. If removing the fishhook is too painful, get medical care.

  Do not try to remove a fishhook (seek medical care instead) if any of the following are true:

  • The fishhook is in or near an eye.
  • The fishhook is in a joint, in a bone, or deep in a muscle.
  • You are concerned that removing the fishhook may damage nearby blood vessels or nerves.
  • You are afraid to remove the fishhook.
• Clean the cut or puncture wound after the fishhook has been removed.

  Wash your hands, and then rinse the wound for 10 to 15 minutes with mild soap and water.

• Check to see if you need stitches.

  If the wound is large or deep, or it opens with movement, it probably needs stitches.

• Put on a bandage.

  Cover the area if you need to protect it from getting dirty or irritated.

Caring for a fishhook eye injury

Fishhook injuries to the eye are rare. When they occur, they can cause a serious injury, including blindness. Prompt emergency room or ophthalmology care is needed to remove the fishhook, prevent complications, and minimize damage from the fishhook.

Do the following, and then seek emergency care:

• Do not try to remove a fishhook from an eye, eyelid, or near an eye.
• Do not put pressure on the eye.
• Cover the eye and fishhook with a metal patch, a cup, or even a paper cup.

  Covering the eye prevents the hook from moving.

  Be very careful not to put pressure on the hook or the eye.

• Cover the uninjured eye, if possible.

  The injured eye will move less if the uninjured eye is covered. This may prevent further damage to the injured eye.

When to call for help during self-care

Call a doctor if any of the following occur during self-care at home:

• New numbness and tingling below the site of the injury.
• New pale, white, blue, or cold skin below the site of the injury.
• New signs of a skin infection, such as warmth, redness, swelling, pus, or a fever.
• Symptoms occur more often or are more severe.

Learn more

Preparing For Your Appointment