I love my 18oz framing hammer. It hurts me too but I can take the trade off. I put my thumb in the mouth just like any other bass, hit as hard as I can usually cutting or tearing my skin with it's teeth, rarely ever takes 2 hits. But I crush the skull/brain with a 1/4 to half inch indention in the head right behind the eyes. The only times I see the fish move are residual nerve twitches and that deems the necessary second hit. Never seen any gill movement.
Any other fish that I can't get my thumb in their mouth due to teeth, I still use my framing hammer and a knife. I just punch the knife straight in with the hammer.
Any other fish that I can't get my thumb in their mouth due to teeth, I still use my framing hammer and a knife. I just punch the knife straight in with the hammer.