Did you ever notice your hooks only really start rusting heavily once you have had a fish on them?
That is the digestive enzimes from the fish going to work on those hooks....so imagine how quicly a hook will rust out after it has been submerged in saltwater and enzimes for an extended period!
I am not saying that all fished hooked and released in such a way will survive, and I do agree with you....might as well keep a fish that is hooked in such a way!
I do however believe you need to use common sense in such a situation. It does not happen to me that often but when it does, I would like to give that fish every opportunity to survive and thrive....and if I believe that that fish will not make it...into the freezer he goes as I hate waste more than anything!
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