70 LB Striper

[Destroyer]

Originally Posted by bgreene

Not released - dead.

Said they tried to release, but mortality rate for fish out of the water for more than 30 seconds is very high. Even if the fish swims away, it may have brain damage and die later.

Thirty seconds max, and if you really want to release well.....keep it in the water, not in the boat, and don't hold the fish up vertically.

Ya, I know. But their heart was in the right place, and I've seen many a fish brought into a boat for a quick pic and then returned to the water and moved back and forth to force water through their gills until they had recovered enough strength to swim off on their own, so I'm not too sure about the 30 second thing...but i agree with you 100% that the best way is to keep the fish in the water if you don't intend to kill it. Lip lift it, remove the hook and then hold it in the water until it's got enough strength back.