If I am casting for stripers at night on cumberland I dont put ANYTHING in the cooler until I am absolutely ready to go home. Some nights this might be after 4 hrs...some nights it might be the first 2 legal fish that are boated.
Im not about to pull any shady stuff that would get me in trouble....NOTHING...its not worth it.
As far as "giving" fish to someone else... you have caught AND possessed your daily limit...as well as the person you gave the fish to is also in possession of his/her daily limit. And just because you now no longer "possess" those fish its not any different than catching 6 ky bass, cleaning them, frying them up and the fam having fish for lunch, you are now no longer in possession of those fish...but you caught and kept your limit for that day....youre done. And just because you didnt "see the man" that morning, dont bet he didnt see you