Excellent post Doc,

It really is not that difficult to remove hooks (especially barbless) in a timely manner from a fish. I fish out of a 25 ft boat that I cannot touch the water from, doesn't matter, I have a "shaker stick" that is a pool cue (big end) with a large (either 14/0 or 16/0) barbless hook attached to the end, very easy to reach down the line and basically try to pick the fish up by the hook thats in the fishes mouth, the fishes own weight drops them off the hook(s). I do this in any water conditions, if its safe enough to be out there fishing then don't biotch about it being unsafe to unhook a fish.