Is it true that catch-and-release can kill pike in warm summer water?

True, and worth saying plainly: when surface water passes roughly 24–25 °C (75–77 °F), a long fight pushes a big pike into oxygen debt its warm, oxygen-poor environment cannot repay, and delayed mortality rises sharply even when the release looks perfect — the fish swims off and dies hours later. Big pike are hit hardest because the size classes that prefer cold water suffer the most heat stress. The honest ethic in a heat wave is to stop targeting trophy pike, or fish deep cool water, use heavy tackle for short fights, and keep fish in the water for a fast release — "it swam away" is not the same as "it survived."

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