Fish spine, teeth and contaminated wounds
Perch, ruffe, pike and catfish wounds infect easily. Clean early.
Get it checked
What to do now
- 1Control bleeding with direct pressure.
- 2Rinse thoroughly with clean running water or saline for several minutes.
- 3Remove visible loose spine fragments only if they lift out easily.
- 4Soaking the area in comfortably hot (not scalding) water can ease venomous spine pain — check water temperature on your own skin first.
- 5Cover with a clean dressing.
Do not
- 1Do not dig for embedded spines or fragments.
- 2Do not close a puncture wound tightly — contaminated punctures need to drain.
- 3Do not ignore a small hole; depth matters more than size here.
Seek urgent help if
- 1Fragment left in the wound, or a wound over a joint or tendon.
- 2Rapidly spreading redness or pain within hours — water-borne bacteria can move fast.
- 3Fever, swollen glands, red streaks, or immune-suppressing conditions or diabetes.
Aftercare
- 1Re-check the wound twice a day for two days.
- 2Keep it dry and covered while fishing.
- 3Ask about antibiotics — many marine and freshwater wound infections need specific cover.
This page is general first-aid guidance for anglers. It cannot diagnose an injury and does not replace professional emergency care. If you are unsure, call 112.