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I don't think you can lump everything together. I know 20% of my fish don't die. I'm sure some people don't take care of the fish they release... we've all seen that... but it doesn't mean that what the rest of us does is bad for the stocks.
Compared to the 100% mortality rate of fish kept by recs, commercial fishermen, and fish killed as bycatch in gillnets or by draggers, somewhere between 80-92% survival rates on fish caught and released seems pretty good.
If the point is to argue the comm vs rec fight, sounds like someone is trying to deflect the issue.
Buy yes, alot of factors are involved.
I use circles with bait and the few fish that are gut hooked, I clip the leader as close as possible and let 'em go. I always wait till the fish kicks out of my hands before letting 'em go.
As a light tackle fisherman, I match the tackle to the fish I target so they are not overplayed. And again, if the fight was exhausting to the fish, I give him plenty of time to revive and don't spend alot of time shooting pics and weighing and measuring the fish. Once in awhile, you get a fish in the gills with a plug or plastic and there's not much you can do with that.
I know that some people kick the fish down the sand back into the surf, I know some people jerk the guts out of a fish to save a hook, I know some people throw 'em back belly up... but some people doesn't represent the majority... I hope.
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