Keep it or Release it? POLL Recordbook fish

[boneaddict]

Controversy on this fish that was just caught.  Critics are mad at the gentleman for keeping the fish instead of releasing it.   Can a fish be released after bringing it up from 900 feet?   I don't know the answer to that and I am not being critical of the guy.  Would you have released it or kept?  BE HONEST

[Woodchuck]

That fish never lives if released. 

[seth30]

I wouldn't imagine any fish brought up from them depths would live if released..

[CedarPants]

Can a fish be released after bringing it up from 900 feet?  I don't know the answer to that and I am not being critical of the guy.

I don't know the answer either but would need to know before I could vote 

[hrd2fnd]

not that I'm out for records, but I'm not going to walk away from  the opportunity if it presents its self.

[boneaddict]

I would release if I thought it would live (say the state record chum or Lahontan), but I honestly don't know about these criters.  I think I have seen where they pop the bladder, but    I have never fished for or caught one??

[GUscottie]

From the little I know, these fish pop their air sacs when they come up, usually its sticking out of their mouth, and thats fatal. When I was in Canada fishing they made us keep all yellow eyes (this type of fish) because of this problem

[jackelope]

That's good eats right there. I also don't know if it would survive.  I can't say I'd keep it for the books, but I can't say I wouldn't enter it either. I would keep it for dinner though.

[Wea300mag]

I think the big issue with the critics is that the fish is estimated to be 200 years old.

[Holg3107]

No way that fish lives coming up from 900' if released. Also this is not a rare or protected fish in any way and is commercially harvested. Fishing at this depth they were most likely targeting this type of fish. In this case for me, I'm bonking it and taking it home. However it would most likely go in the freezer to be fried up and strategically placed in my belly as I probably wouldn't know that it was a record unless someone let me know.

[Wea300mag]

For the record, I voted "fish n chips"

[Antlershed]

That fish never lives if released. 

[jackelope]

For the record, I voted "fish n chips"

The more I think about it, the more I wonder what 200 year old yelloweye fish and chips tastes like.
 

[Wea300mag]

For the record, I voted "fish n chips"

The more I think about it, the more I wonder what 200 year old yelloweye fish and chips tastes like.
 

Probably not like chicken.

[h2ofowlr]

Unless you have one of the tools to let the air out, that fish is dead once it hits the surface, so I would have kept it.  Under different circumstances I would have released it.  Same issue they have with rockfish at 130'.  If you try to release them they just float on the surface until an eagle or seal grabs them.  You need the needle to let the air out, so they can swim back down.