http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_forums/YaBB.pl?num=1246815186

http://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-videos/fish-care-in-the-livewell.html

i just got finished watching this video that was recommended by Glenn and i have a couple questions.

1. i fish 100% of the time from the shore and dont have a boat or a live well. i never catch fish and keep them, it is more of a catch, admire, and release. if i unhook the fish and set him free, how long after that point could they possibly die? when i release them, they swim off like they are supposed to and all looks fine. but is it really?

2. this video kinda has me paranoid about catching/releasing these fish. i realize it may not feel good to get a hook in the lip but how do i know that they will live after i set them free? if there is no blood present of the release, how much harm are they in once they leave?

3. i also saw a video that shows the correct way to hold a fish, im glad i watched that, very informative. i am guilty of holding a fish horizontally. although i have never caught anyhting of great weight (less than a pound), i now know what not to do. :'( never thought about breaking the jaw. is there a way to know if the jaw is broken. if you dont feel any cracks or breaks how do you know if the jaw is broken? will it heal?? or will the fish die shortly after?

hope someone can set me straight :-/

1. They're fine.

2. They're fine.

3. You'll know.

Relax bro, fishing is supposed to be fun!

If you release them immediately, they have a much greater chance of survival.  The video is geared towards anglers who keep them in their livewells for several hours.

As for breaking the jaw - hard to on a fish weighing less than 2 lbs, unless you really torque on his jaw while taking the hook out (easier to do on the dinks).  As a fish weighs more, then holding him properly becomes even more important.