Snagly-
You should have released BOTH fish and hoped for the best (for the fish). I, like many, was taught to respect my elders in all circumstances but this is beyond the pale. Unless you were to witness these two snacking on Alpo, the moral high ground is the only place to be. No one needs a fish that close to death and spawn. If there is the slightest chance of the fish living it should be released, period. The wife and I release ALL fish that are not destined for dinner the same day, unless fatally hooked. The Cowlitz got back several beautiful cutts on sunday including a VERY nice 20 incher that was tasty looking. Don't know about you, but we fish to fish, not catch, that is the icing on the cake. "some men spend their whole life fishing not knowing that the fish is not what they're after" As to the concern of safety, excercise your constitutional rights and defend yourself as appropriate is the best advice I can give. If someone is such a NANCY BOY that the only way they can keep a fish is at gunpoint, then so be it. I will still sleep at night knowing that I made my mark on his conscience.