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Below is a short article I wrote on the KFS website which I think relates to this thread:

Every so often something happens to remind me that this sport has a certain element of risk. Not such a bad thing, I think, as it stops me from being too complacent, at least for a while.
Last January I had a little wake up call that I hope will serve me well for a few seasons. The weather at the time was almost as good as it gets, nominal swell, top of the tide about 7.30am. I was on the water at 5.15am and out in my troll zone (a bit over three km's off the beach) before 6am. Half an hour later I got a solid strike on a trolled Pilchard and after about a good five minutes got the fish close enough to the yak to confirm it was a small Cobia (Black Kingfish)... about 5kg.
As it didn't show any signs of tiring, and being impatient to get back on the troll, I brought it to the side, lip gripped it and attempted to remove the three ganged 5/0 hooks and release it. The fish was still pretty green and the angle difficult so I hauled it on board and went to work with the long nose pliers. I got the bottom hook out from under the fish's chin and was working on the next one when it gave an almighty heave and threw itself sideways and down.
Funny, all I felt was a slight tug on my lower right leg but when I looked down I saw that the free 5/0 hook had gone right through a good inch of flesh about 4 inches above the ankle (only about an 1/8th inch deep, fortunately) and back out. So now I'm thinking... bugger! The fish, of course, is still shaking its head (although I'm naturally doing my best to limit its movements), only now my leg is firmly attached to it. Fortunately my small, very sharp diver's knife is always in easy reach in my vest pocket. In a few seconds I had the knife out, laid the cutting edge on the stretched skin just under the curve of the hook, and sliced firmly. Got it first time and didn't feel a thing for about 3 or 4 minutes, but by then I'd gaffed the now to be terminated Cobia, removed the other hooks and stowed the soon to be filleted fish in the rear tank well. The cut in my leg was just above the top of my rubber diving boot so what blood there was was contained in the boot.
Lesson?
1) Never bring a strong, still green fish like a Cobia, Tuna or Mackerel on board your kayak... always play a fish like that (if you intend to keep it) until it's just about on its last legs.
2) Always use a gaff (through the gill and out the mouth like a lifting hook) to lift that sort of fish on board. A lip gripper does not give you the same sort of control over a strong pelagic.
3) Always have a quality diver's knife close at hand, for a variety of reasons.
Anyway, once I got the Cobia stowed in the front hatch (rolled up in two wet towels and inside a plastic bin liner) I was able to inspect my impromtu surgical wound.. not too bad, stung just a little when I washed it with sea water but otherwise ok.
The flap of flesh probably could have done with a few stitches but it sat fairly flush under a band aid when I got home so I didn't worry about.
I've still got a half inch by quarter inch purple scar just above my right ankle as a reminder.
Now, after all that, did I go barbless? No. I'm just a lot more wary of 'green' fish on the deck these days.
The species I like to target throughout summer is the Spanish Mackerel and one of their favourite tricks is to rush your yak, create slack line and head-shake free (when they go aerial it's pretty spectacular). Reality is, after (in some cases) two or three hours of paddle trolling to perhaps secure one major hook-up, I feel I can do without the added degree of difficulty that comes with barbless hooks.
I might (this time around) de-barb the trebles on my smaller lures for winter when we're chasing tailor, snapper, dart, kingies etc. Hey... at least it's a start.

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Perception Swing Angler
Perception Synchro Angler
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www.fishingnoosa.com.au

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