Releasing BIG fish?

[Hooper]

Originally Posted by thortum

Whats the best way to release big fish. I resently caught and kept the biggest fish that I have ever caught[49"]. I don't want to keep any more [assuming I'm lucky anough to get another]. I got the fish to shore fairly quickly, but he had no fight left in him! With smaller fish, I just hold them in the water and give them a swimming motion until they are ready to go, but I not so sure it would have worked with this one. Any advise??

I don't have that problem, the Twinkies I catch seem to do just fine!

[Swimmer]

I'll say this about bass that are released, I never see many if any belly up.

[OLD GOAT]

Wet ass many a time standing in the wash ,unhooking and reviving. Some of my best memories are in the wash ,soaking wet with the late ,great Eddie Everett instructing me how to release a big fish and watching swim off with other fish in attendance kind of like circus elephants in a line. Eddie was a great environmentalist and misted by a lot of people. I GUESS WHAT HE TAUGHT ME WAS TO RELEASE THEM WITHOUT LIFTING THEM OUT OF THE WATER AND PUTING A STRAIN ON THERE BELLYS

[numbskull]

Double your pleasure. Letting 'em go feels every bit as good as getting them to hit in the first place.