In the UK they are ALL released, unhooked on padded unhooking mats, treated with 'kid gloves', no "Gags" forcing mouths open and damaging teeth. Weighed in special soft mesh 'slings' and held in the water for as long as it take for them to recover - no "dive bombing" them back. Well at least by 99% of anglers.
This fish came from Scotland.
The PACGB (Pike Anglers Club of Great Britain)
www.pacgb.co.uk gets limited access to this water at times and it's a lottery for members to to get a ticket due to limited numbers.
The PACGB have been instumental in changing attitudes towards Pike in the UK for a long time and have done a fantistic job of highlighting really good handling techniques to the British angling public. Despite what many think they are an incredibly fragile fish and need to be handled with the up most care to survive C&R consistently.
No one would even consider eating such a wonderful fish over there! There isn't enough around to sustain taking fish for the pot, when you think about the population of the UK and size of the place you'll realise why. Although with the influx of East Europeans into the UK who have a differnet view/culture, UK angling is facing a big challenge, and it's causing plenty of friction between the differnet groups.
An awesome fish!!!!!!!!!
I don't know any details but here's another monster, not from the UK.
http://www.bigfishtackle.com/forum/General_Fishing_C2/Freshwater_Fishing_F2/Best_Pike_Catch_ever_P310227/
cheers,
Paul.