Originally Posted By: FishPrince
If you retain a fish there is a 100% chance it dies, if you release a fish, even if bleeding the chance it dies is less than 100%. Tossing it back, even if it rots isn't a waste. If that released fish dies, it at least adds nutrients to the ecosystem which indirectly helps future generations of fish survive.


On the same hand bonking a fish and throwing its guts in the water does the same thing, plus it allows you to enjoy a fish dinner. Don't get me wrong I'm not for bonking a nat, but I'm also not going to begrudge a person for doing so as long as he is following the law. Nor would I have a problem bonking a bleeding nat hooked in the gills if I was certain it was going to. The reasoning that releasing a bleeding fish even though it has no chance vs bonking it because it eases your guilt doesn't cut it in my book. You still killed the fish. If you really feel that way then you should quite fishing for the year the first time you hook a nat and its gut hooked and bleeding. You killed your one nat fish for the year.