Device for handling fish

A device for handling fish comprising:

• a handle portion (10) extending between a closed end and an open end for gripping by a human hand,
• a hook portion (11) spaced from said handle portion (10) to present a fish retention pocket (12) therebetween,
• an arm portion (13) interconnecting said handle portion (10) and hook portion (11) at said closed end to define a bottom (14) of said pocket (12),
• said hook portion (11) extending along a hook axis (A) from said arm portion (13) to a distal end (15),
• said hook portion (11) and said handle portion (10) presenting straight sides (16, 17) diverging from said bottom (14) to an open end of said pocket (12) with said straight side (16) of said handle portion (10) parallel to said hook axis (A) to provide a wider open space (S) between said handle portion (10) and hook portion (11) at said distal end (15) of said hook portion (11) than the closed space (WB) between said handle portion (10) and hook portion (11) defined by said arm portion (13) at said bottom (14) of said pocket (12),
• said hook portion (11) has a cross section that tapers inwardly in transverse radial directions toward said axis (A) from said arm portion (13) to said distal end (15) so that said cross section of said hook portion (11) progressively reduces in size from said arm portion (13) to said distal end (15),
• said cross section of said hook portion (11) is of an I beam with parallel traverse flanges (18) having edges and centrally interconnected by a center web (19), said flanges and said center web (19) tapering inwardly from said arm portion (13) toward said distal end (15) whereby said I beam cross section reduces in size along said taper,
• said hook portion (11) includes a round, bullet-shaped tip section (20) at said distal end (15), and
• said hook portion (11) includes a four sided solid cross sectional section (21) between said flanges (18) and said tip section (20).