What was the hardest fish for you to release?

[gustoIV]

While fishing in NC out of Beaufort about five years ago I had to release not one but four BFT due to the season being closed. We sat at the dock for 4 days waiting to fish due to conditions and for the season to open. I had to be back in NJ and our last day there we went and had one of the best days I've had on this class fish.

Left the dock at 4:30 and after the short run we had our first fish on by 5:30. Got it to the boat and it was a nice fish around 425. We quickly released it and back on the troll. The next fish was about 350 and also quickly released. Then we had the bite we were looking for, a good one starts pulling and about 45 minutes later had a 99" fish swimming next to the boat. All I can say is that even though it was not legal to kill that day, boy did I still want to bring it in the boat and get some pictures and even hang it. Obviously we quickly got the hook out and swam the fish till he was pulling again.

We went 4-6 by noon and then did some bottom fishing to put some meat in the boat. Still a great day fishing and releasing. One of these years we will bring the boat back down and give it another shot.

So lets hear some stories about that big fish you let live for regulation or personal reasons.

[LuckyLady]

Great Idea I have one of those pictures to share, even one that was the easiest to release you know one where the mate breaks the leader like a dummy

[bigfish4me]

The 6-8lb flounder that hit stretch 30's while trolling for stripers......kills me letting them go.

[LuckyLady]

The 6-8lb flounder that hit stretch 30's while trolling for stripers......kills me letting them go.

Haha kinda like a little bluefish that grabs a stretch end results rip his lips off

[gustoIV]

I hate when we are trolling for bluefish to go sharking and can only catch bass, why is there a 3 mile law on bass anyway?

[LuckyLady]

Monster Shark 08

Big Blue Shark

[TeamLithics]

I always find the ones that release themselves to be the hardest. I hate that!

[HOT PURSUIT CHARTERS]

Mine was a 100 lb. mako. Not a huge fish, but one I should have killed, but it wasn't my call. Second time out within a week for a customer. First trip, I kept him and his three boys busy with 15 shark releases, all around 50 lbs., no makos or threshers. This trip we hooked a nice, eating size mako right out of the gate.. Had him hooked and to the boat within the first 15 minutes after setting out the bait and chum. Sea conditons were snotty (3-4 foot chop and 15 knot winds). Calling for small craft advisory around noon.
Customer: "We've only been out hear 15 minutes."
Me: "What's your point? We have a nice fish. Let me kill him. We're still gonna fish, but we can't kill another one."
" I was hoping to catch a bigger one."
" Let me kill him."
" Think we'll catch another one?"
" Don't know, didn't bring my crystal ball out here today. Let me kill him."
" Mmmm. I was hoping to catch a bigger one."
" Let me kill 'em."
" Cut him loose."
" You're gonna regret this. Let me kill 'em."
" Cut him loose."
" Your trip. Your money."
I release him. Stayed another three hours w/o a bite. Sea conditions get worse, forcing me to head in and cut the trip short. He requested we stop and fish.
"Nope, it ain't worth it. Sorry."
We get pounded coming in, and once we hit the calm waters of the inlet, he says, "Good idea coming in."
"Ya think!? Now you're hatin' yourself, right? Should have let me kill him."
"You're right."
Gave me a $400 tip for a $800 trip.
But I agree with one of the previous posts. The ones that release themselves are always the worse.

[Chico1]

Three of us are fishing out of an old wooden panga out of Mazatlan Mexico. The guy motors us about an hour north along the beach and then heads out maybe two or three miles to an upswell where you can see all kinds of stuff coming up from the bottom in a current. We drop lines overboard (the "capt" had 2 rods/reels, glad I brought my heavy 7' surf outfit) In no time we are bailing nice 6 to 9# "pargo" red snapper in the boat. Soon we have a dozen in the boat when I realize we have not cooler, no ice, etc. Within 45 minutes of starting to fish, we had to head back in so our fish would not spoil. The last 3 snapper we brought up were kissed and sent back down, the capt coulda died!! Never found a guy that would take us back out to that spot again!! After paying the boat owner for the "charter" we gave the "capt" (poor mexican commercial fisherman who knew where the fish were" half the fish. His boss, the owner tried to take them from him, when we intervened, he split but I think it cost the capt his job. Even in Maz. those fish were worth $10 to $12. each . We had a big fish fry at the hotel and invited our hosts friends and family.