05-13-2021, 10:39 PM
Catch and release is fine if you know for sure the fish is just lipped and not bleeding. We were down to Otter Creek last week and were with overcomem with small planters, I had several that were just hooked in the mouth area and tried to turn them lose. they would act ok and Id let them go they would swim 10 to 15 feet go belly up and just lay there. after 2 or 3 of these incidents I told the wife that I think the fish were too small to fight after they were caught.We were able to recover two of those fish and I seen a pelican grab the other one for a snack. Another thing I would like too point out to all you other fisherman is that a brass and a composite hook well never disintegrate in a fish . So if you cut the hook off next too the mouth its probably only going too starve too death. This is just my opinion. Ive only fished for 65 years and I might be wrong. Thank you from fellow fisherman.