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I can tell you with some certainly that these are tough frigging fish.
I remember reading release mortality was < 5 percent on blackfish (but I could be wrong.
Tautog (aka rirock Sr.) has been experimenting by reeling them slower in deep water (90-100ft) and I don't know he has seen a change in the number 'blown out'
I can tell you on cold Dec days we have come back to the dock to clean fish, got through most and found one in the cooler barely kicking, close to death, and we've put it in the crab holder overnight, and the thing was good as new. We also fish heavy tackle and very large (by most standards) hooks, so very few if any are gut/gill hooked... I have zero qualms about C&R smaller fish looking for a trophy after putting a few in the box. I don't feel the same about bait fishing bass....
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