Gone Fishing

A friend of mine recently tore down his tank, and I acquired his large 4-5 inch blood hawkfish. I knew adding him could be a risk, but it was a cool looking fish and my kids wanted one for a while. He proceeded to kill my 4 year old royal gramma.
I decided the tank needed something else to take the Grammas spot so I went to the store and consulted them on what I could add that will be able to take the Hawk. They recommended a wrasse, so I purchased an orange back fairy wrasse..........The hawk killed it..
I returned to the store and purchased a peppermint Hogfish (I know, I should have held back). It died, and although I don't have proof, I believe the hawk killed it.
Today I went to the store again and purchased a number 16 treble hook. I Baited it with leftover meatloaf, and I'll be damned if I didn't catch that bastard in about 30 seconds. Netting it would have been impossible, and not nearly as rewarding.
Peace has returned to my reef, and now i have room to add 2 fish....bonus.

 

Ive heard of people using hooks for extraction before, I was really suprised how easy it was.
Aside from potential emotional scarring no damage was done to the fish.

 

Mounting and hanging it on the canopy door would be sweet, to serve as a warning to other would be aggressors.
I've never had a true bully fish before, after it was removed all the other fish kept checking out its favorite perches. If they could speak, I'm sure they would have been making fun of him, like the bad drunk that just left a party.

If anybody wants a free Hawkfish come to Dubuque and get him, I resisted the urge to toss it down the garbage disposal and he is living in my near empty frag tank. Maybe I'll turn it into an indoor saltwater fishing hole.

Fabricating an ultra ultra micro light rod this winter, may be in order. Unless somebody wants it.