Last night I was on my patio talking with my landlord about Salmon fishing, along with a few of his friends who are going fishing with us later this year. The topic of foul hooking came up when we were explaining the dos-donts, can-cants, of the river.
 
Now I've been fishing here since I was 9, and I'm 28 now, I've done all sorts fishing for Salmon from Weighted Trebles to now. My landlord has been doing this a bit less, and about 22 years older than me.
 
I've always known it to break it off if its foul hooked, and cant keep it if you land it and its foul hooked. I know the DSR is immediate break off, and I'm not sure on the actual rule on the DEC's take on it. 
 
One of the new guys brought up a legitimate point of what makes sense and is right. I'm not one to break off a fish with 25 feet of line, although if it happens it happens, but we all dont wanna do that if we dont need too. But say the fish is landed, do you take the hook out or leave it in? Its like getting shot with an arrow, you take it out you're gonna bleed to death.
 
Whats your guys' take on this? Leave the hook in? Take it out? Break it off immediately?  

If you fish the Sr foul hooking is gonna happen-intended or not.
Everyone will have a different opinion on what to do IMHO.
 Personally generally try and land the fish if its not gonna be one of those marathon deals-AFTER trying to 'shake' the hook out without succes.
 Always like to remove my hook as well as any other ornaments hanging off fish before the release- no matter where they are located and wether fair hooked or not.
 Some may frown on playing  a foul hooker but one may well agree that leaving the hook and line on a fish is perhaps just as bad. Kinda a coin toss IMHO.
 I DO make an exception if it happens in a crowded area as a foul hooked can be a nightmare to play in gently and it may not be the 'polite 'thing to do in a crowd.
 IMHO its the release part that counts and indicates the true intention of whats happening.

retired guy

If you fish the Sr foul hooking is gonna happen-intended or not.
Everyone will have a different opinion on what to do IMHO.
Personally generally try and land the fish if its not gonna be one of those marathon deals-AFTER trying to 'shake' the hook out without succes.
Always like to remove my hook as well as any other ornaments hanging off fish before the release- no matter where they are located and wether fair hooked or not.
Some may frown on playing  a foul hooker but one may well agree that leaving the hook and line on a fish is perhaps just as bad. Kinda a coin toss IMHO.
I DO make an exception if it happens in a crowded area as a foul hooked can be a nightmare to play in gently and it may not be the 'polite 'thing to do in a crowd.
IMHO its the release part that counts and indicates the true intention of whats happening.

 
That's what my feelings are.Also,if you have a lot of line trailing on a fish it could wind up wrapped around a bird or animal,that's not good!

I agree with all of that. But what is the DEC's take on this? Is this something that has been addressed by them?

If I know its foul hooked right away ,aka big tail wiggle or rolls to surface I will point the rod straight at fish and pull the line to break off.. Generally it breaks right at the knot of the fly or pull free.
 
Very rarely is much line lost or trailing.. As or leaving the hook in the fish ? I don't see it as a big deal esp. on salmon except for the handlers at the hatchery.. Steelhead, I'm sure they have endured more pain then a small hook left in and it will rot off quickly..
 
I hate nothing more the to see guys "drag" fish in backwards or sideways.. Mostly it's a dead fish after release due to drowning..
And tying up a hole is a big NO-NO (IMO) 

Would kinda think the Wardens take on it is that the foul hooked fish being played is illegal. Probably why DSR has its rule.
 Too many guys hookem anyway they can and yell 'right in the mouth' when landed and keepem all no matter what.
 That said if they come in reasonable I will always try and remove the hook and do the release- always let them all go anyhow.
 Tunas right about his method of breaking them off and I do that too- only mentioned the shake part initially but the point and break is in my system too- It does not always work depending on the water (especially in soft waters) hence the play them if you must kinda mentality.
 GENTLY played is a real key here IMHO - not dragged or drowned. Frankly its not alwasy possible with a foul hooker depending on the waters and the fish itself.

Duke, I don't think you can compare removing an arrow to removing a hook.  Fish rarely, if ever, bleed from being foul hooked.  More often than not the hook has marginally entered the flesh and poses no serious threat to survival.   
The only time I would be concerned about removing a hook would be if the fish is somehow foul hooked in the gills.  The chances of that are remote unless you are ripping like they did in the snagging era. 
Get a good pair of fishing pliers, forceps or other tools to aid in hook removal. 
Or, if you practice catch and release, crimp down the barb on the hook or fly so that it pops out nice and easy.   
 

troutbum21

Duke, I don't think you can compare removing an arrow to removing a hook.  Fish rarely, if ever, bleed from being foul hooked.  More often than not the hook has marginally entered the flesh and poses no serious threat to survival.   
The only time I would be concerned about removing a hook would be if the fish is somehow foul hooked in the gills.  The chances of that are remote unless you are ripping like they did in the snagging era. 
Get a good pair of fishing pliers, forceps or other tools to aid in hook removal. 
Or, if you practice catch and release, crimp down the barb on the hook or fly so that it pops out nice and easy.   

 
I'm just saying an open wound isn't good, and i know its a hell of a lot smaller. But i've had hooks go through gills, and thats not fun at all. I basically had to cut the line and snip the tip of the hook and the line hole and hope for the best. 
 
And I do snip all of the barbs for my flies and hooks, even if I do plan on keeping 1-2. It just seems to help remove the hook quicker and easier so a fish dont suffocate, gotta work fast so they dont die, my uncle always told me when you take a fish out of the water hold your breath too, thats how you know the fish has been out to long. 

hot tuna

If I know its foul hooked right away ,aka big tail wiggle or rolls to surface I will point the rod straight at fish and pull the line to break off.. Generally it breaks right at the knot of the fly or pull free.

Very rarely is much line lost or trailing.. As or leaving the hook in the fish ? I don't see it as a big deal esp. on salmon except for the handlers at the hatchery.. Steelhead, I'm sure they have endured more pain then a small hook left in and it will rot off quickly..

I hate nothing more the to see guys "drag" fish in backwards or sideways.. Mostly it's a dead fish after release due to drowning..
And tying up a hole is a big NO-NO (IMO) 

This^
If I know its foul and can't wiggle the rod and free it I point the rod and pull till the line breaks or the hiook come free.
Since my tippet is always lighter than my leader I leave very little line trailing.

i know there is a dec guy out there reading these what is your take on this