The intent of that last line under "selective gear" rules is only meant to encourage that fish hooked in locations that tend to cause high mortalities be taken rather than released. Gill plates are not gills....never seen a fish hooked in the gills except thru inside of the mouth. Only way to hook a fish in the tongue is well let me look in the old biology book...will wonders never cease...through the inside of the mouth. Now I've seen a few fish hooked in the eye from outside the mouth....you almost always see this on smaller fish with single siwash hooks where the hook is inside the fishes mouth but the point exits from the inside thru the eye. A gamie is going to write you a big ticket of $500 if he catches you keeping any fish hooked in the gill plates or in the eye if that hook is outside the mouth...period. Gosh if you doubt this I bet we can schedule for you to try this in front of one. Sheesh do we even have to quibble over hooked in the tongue...really hope everyone knows where the tongues located? Sorry you won't get a ticket for that one. Please read the snagging rules? As for the outside but real near the gumline hookup well do what you please but realize you're likely to get the big ticket also...just less likely....probably depend on the officer and mood.
I'm staying out of the flosser debate....as there's too much gray area in what's being talked about.

Gooose