how to deal with large catch?

[bwana]

Isn't fishing a form of hunting? What makes one better morally than the other?

You can always stalk your game and purposely miss the shot or take a photo if that makes you feel more complete.

Then go to the store and buy your meat laying on a maxipad wrapped in cellophane with a date stamp.

As I get older I "feel" for the animal's/fish's lost life. To honor that animal I only take a clean shot, butcher everything myself and don't waste it.

At least a yellowtail doesn't let out a long protracted death moan like a bear does in its final moment. Talk about a sad sound.

You want to talk about contemplating ones mortality... our sport can be dangerous. I have felt relief on mutliple occassions finally
making the harbor when things turned rough or the fog/lightning rolled in quickly and unexpectedly. I'm sure we all have stories
of stupid boaters, sharks, big bull sea lions. Hell I almost got killed by a bonita (my friends all know that story).

I too release my bait at day's end.