Okay, I know that there are many hard-core fisherman here, but I'm just a guy that loves to fish for the relaxation and fun. My dad and I like to fish a lot together. We practice catch and release, usually catch bluegill, crappie, and a few catfish on wax worms. However, we don't eat any of the fish (thus the catch and RELEASE), but I do get tired of killing fish inadvertently. You know, they swallow the hook and get it in their gut, and it isn't coming out without killing them in most cases. The last time we fished, we caught all of these tiny bluegill that kept swallowing hooks, even as we'd put larger hooks on. They were in a feeding frenzy.

I love to fish, but want to respect the craft and don't want to just be out there killing fish for fun. That kinds of takes the fun away. I like to catch them, love the thrill of the catch, but don't want to kill them.

So, does anyone have any suggestions? I've heard of circle hooks, but don't know if they'd help. My goal is not to kill any at all if I can help it, not just reduce the number of accidental kills. If I was eating the fish, or knew someone that wanted the fish we caught, it wouldn't be quite as big of a deal, I guess (not much experience in that facet of fishing).

Thanks for any replies. I grew up fishing, love it, and want to continue, but I'm not into killing them for sport, even on accident, when I know it will happen again and again, as may with traditional fishing methods as I know them.