Quote Originally Posted by tnpondmanager View Post
When a gut-hook happens, I cut the line. Studies have been done by fisheries biologists that found this results in drastically-higher survival rates than trying to fish out the hook with forceps/disgorger/etc.
Personally I don't like this method because of the possibility of another wildlife species eating that fish and having a hook (with possibly lead) in it's system. A Blue Heron, or an Osprey, or even a Gator. And also the fact that it's essentially littering. I'd rather just try to get it out, and if the fish does not make it, I love seeing that Osprey hit the water in front of me to grab it. Circle of life.