Check out this "Ugly Bastard"

   

 Giant Ling pulled up by hand.         

Why did they release it? 

Wooo Hooo  that was sweet   thanks bro   

 

   Day...ummm  That was  big fish!  See those eyes watching everything they were doing?  It swam off like "I don't sweat you things"

that was cool...but i would have never let it go haha

very very  very cool!

Reasons to let it go, based on silly assumptions:
a) these guys don't need another ling in the freezer
b) This looks a lot like a commercial boat, so, if they are fishing for cod, a Ling is not likely on allowable take
c) The fishermen are just cool dudes

but my vote is for "b"

I about shit when they said we don't need that big ugly bastard and chucked it   

Yeah I'll go with b) also, commercial boat so probably not on their permit....awesome fish though.  Would love to see a mutant 20-ft ling take on a 20-ft GWS, what a battle that would be.

I let one go like that off Santa Cruz pier......... Let it go the same way they did, not same size.

Damn lings are just mean. Probably woulda but that dudes are if he had it in the water.

Awesome video! Can't blame the Ling for coming back. those Pacific cod are really good eating.

Let it go because.
a) Too big - outside of slot limit - like with sturgeon down here
b)Out of season? Probably not, but they do have Lng specific seasons there.
c) Not sure if it's included with RCG in Alaska and there is , if I remember right, a two rock cod limit, cause they grow slow up there.
d) Tough eating
e) Big fish let go = lots of future baby fish