Interesting. My first thought would have been GBH, but I'm sure you're right that a hook could cause that type of damage.
That was my initial thought but the very tiny hole in the eyeball is the give away along with the exit groove. At least to me. And now that I have a $100.00 permit the herons are avoiding my pond. I kid you not!
Seriously I am constantly looking for them as I live here and I haven't seen any activity except for two landings months ago. One I ran off with the dog and the other I shot at and mysteriously missed.
The smallouth also stay too deep for the herons. They only come up at feeding time.
