Too many variables. I have also done all 3.

We've thrown back a 2.5lbr that was tongue hooked before we even had 5 fish.

I'm also the fool that tossed back a 14" spot in a BFL earlier in the year only to get a check with only 4 fish. That one little spot cost me about $300!

I've had fish I would have bet money they were going to die that came out of the livewell active as a banshee and I've had perfectly fine fish just flat curl up and die. I've learned I can't tell if a fish will live or die just by eyeballing them. They need to ride around a bit in the livewell before I can tell if they'll make it.

The only way I would release a weak fish would be if they were the smallest of six and thus the logical "cull" fish. Wouldn't feel right tossing it back because it may die. If it does die I keep it.

X2!!!


One thing I will not put in my life well, unless its defiantly going to be part of the stringer and will make up for the deduction, is a tongue hooked fish

Those fish will die on you in an instant, with no signs of getting sick. [/quote]

It is weird ain't it. Just a little stick does it. I think I read how it shocks the fish so badly because of nerves in tongue. You would think it would be the same for humans that get their tongues pierced!

The only fish that gets an immediate release is a Tongue Hooked one.
I've become some what proficient in Deep Hook Removal,using the "Through the Gill technique."

Not in a tourney but a couple years ago I hooked a fish in the tongue with a 6xd and it was dead before I got it to the boat.

Cliff did the same thing a couple years ago at Ivie. Stone dead. It was weird he thought he had lost it and was bringing in some junk off the bottom.

Dang I guess I have to catch a fish before I have to decide that huh???

So if a guy catches a bass, weighs it, and it dies 2 days later he catches 7 pages of [censored]; but if it's in a tournament rip it out, chuck em back, turtle fodder on to the next one?

Got it.