i think cutting the line is as safe as you can get. i witness bk c&r serval fish and played them quickly and released them quickly. i mean in less than 5 min. they know what they are doing and have a good time to boot. i am sure they take extra care with the nates but as far as hatchery i say wack them all. they are there for us to harvest. leave some for the rest. for what after i saw bk leave i saw three drift boots pass over the same hole not even making a cast. some people learn to fish and others just *****.