Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Went out looking for turtles at the pond near my apartment, and found about a 20 pound snapper. Good day so far right? Well, the snapper turned out to have a hook embedded somewhere between its mouth and stomach, attached to a heavy(over 100 pound test) braided line, which was tied to a tree root. It was so exhausted that it didn't even have the energy to try biting me-how often do you see a wild snapper act like that? The only good thing was that I found it instead of the idiot who set an illegal line, it was reported and the turtle got to swim away.

Did you get the hook out? When I used to use hooks to catch them, I found that the hooks always passed thru. Howver, I do not use hooks anymore.
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Justin

No, didn't get the hook out-it looked to be either in the throat or completely swallowed. We figured he would probably either pass it or it would decompose. The worst part is that I think I know who did it but can't prove anything.

I am an avid Musky fisherman. I have read numerous DNR studies on deep hooked musky. These used a large single hook, and live bait. Any hook that is past the mouth, and not removed is a killer. Plain and simple.

It's a good thing that you found the turtle before the fisherman came back. Good job! Christy

I don't know why you were angry. I mean for Christs sake there ain't nothing better than a piping hot dish snapping turtle soup and a cold brew to wash it down. I mean it was probably some poor old boy out trying to catch dinner for his family, and you went along and robbed him of it. Where I'm from if you were caught taking somebody else's meal like that....you probably would have gotton a busted off Axe handle up side your head!