I have to agree with some, my boat is a bit too big to reach into the water to release a fish. As for shakers, they come out of the water, pliers on the hook, a quick twist and he is back in the water not have been touched by human hands. That is the best I can do, but in smaller boats you bet, leave 'em in the water. When a large fish comes in the boat, he goes on the vinyl motor cover and not on the carpet if possible. The carpet is a good scaler! As Downriggin' said, some of those tugs in the bay put water over the bow of my 20 footer, I am not going to lean over the side to release a fish and risk going overboard.

I think maybe Bob was referring to river fishing more than open water, maybe it should be a fishery by fishery rule?