50 Pound Bass - Would You Release It?

[Pauls1976]

Ideally, I will say release it after a quick picture. However, there are too many variables for an honest answer to me. Am I in a tournament or not? How and where is the fish hooked. Trebles hooked in gullet or spoon right in jaw or circle hook in corner of mouth? I wouldn't release if she was hooked bad and bleeding out the gills when I got her boat side.

I killed a 47lber once, that was only because the fish inhaled the Stretch 30 that was being trolled for blues (shark bait), the trebles mangled her jaw and gullet.