What release tools do I need, and how do I not get bitten?
Non-negotiables: long-nosed pliers (20 cm / 8 in or longer), a jaw spreader for deep or awkward hooksets, side-cutters that can cut your hooks (sacrificing a hook beats torturing a fish), and a big deep-bag net or cradle to keep the fish in the water while you work. The safe hold is the gill-plate grip: fingers slide up under the gill cover from behind, gripping the hard plate itself — never into the red gill rakers, never a hand in the mouth, and never the vertical dry hang that damages a big fish's spine and organs. Work over water or a wet surface, and everything gets faster and safer for both parties.
The full story
This answer is one piece of a longer lesson — setups, diagrams and the reasoning behind it.
More questions about What this means for fishing
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Same topic, other species
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