They are as resistant as the fish's skin to light contact. By using barbless hooks that reverse easily, an entry through the gill slit can often be used when entry through the mouth is impractical or impossible with typical dikes. A small, narrow pair of long-nosed pliers must be used, so the pliers can be rotated without putting pressure on the gill arches. Moreover, it doesn't involve a significantly increased risk of harm, if the remover is careful as indicated above. However, If the angler is paw-handed, clumsy, or careless, the procedure could cause significant damage, making leaving a hook and long leader in the bass a better option with higher odds of survival.
Fish caught with only superficial wounds are likely to survive release.
Small, deeply-hooked and bleeding bass likely should be eaten, rather than released to die later. Slot bass must be released in as healthy a condition as possible. And lunker bass larger than 24 inches are so rare and valuable in the fishery that they should be immediately released, even if they are bleeding or deeply-hooked. Remove the hook if possible. Leave an 18-inch leader if you can not remove the hook.