Sea Clare, the ocean charterboats never net fish to be released -- none that I've seen anyway. Typically they use a gaff as a hookout, just like many of us use a brass cup hanger hook on a dowel to release fish without ever touching them. They grab the leader and lift, hook onto the barbless hook and pull up while pulling the leader down. The fish slides right off. They've been releasing that way for at least 35 years -- very effective and I think minimal mortality. I say go with the longer selective season in every case.