PALMAS, BRAZIL – A sport fishing guide reached into the mouth of a redtail catfish to remove a hook and fishing line lodged deep inside the fish after it was caught in the Rio Formoso, in the municipality of Formoso do Araguaia, in southwestern Tocantins state.

The operation was carried out by guide Ubiratan de Brito Fragoso, who removed the hook and line by hand. According to Fragoso, the fish had been hooked during a previous fishing trip by another group. After the fishing line snapped, the catfish escaped with the hook still embedded in its mouth.

The redtail catfish measured about 1.2 meters (3.9 feet) in length and weighed approximately 30 kilograms (66 pounds). The species is common in the region and can grow to more than 2 meters (6.6 feet) long and weigh over 100 kilograms (220 pounds).

The fish was released by Joiceline Leme, who is seen in the video holding it before returning it safely to the river.

Amazon Agency