Now when it came to fishing, we used the same principle (right bait to catch the right fish), but this was always strictly for eating. We never kept them as "pets" (that would have bordered on silly with "game" fish!), and we only did "catch and release" according to the State laws on size or season. Being a savvy fisherman, however, Dad almost NEVER had to release a fish; he knew what bait to use to catch the BIG ones! The only problem was......the often didn't want to be caught! Somehow, I don't think that will be a problem with the bait I'm using!
The biggest "fish" I ever caught was my own Dad; flipping for bass down in Lochloosa, I snapped the line too hard, it went over my shoulder, and the purple worm's tri-hook went right through his bottom lip. I figured I was dead!
Dad never said a word until he had trolled back to shore, when he simply said, "STAY!". He headed up to the car, pulled a wire cutter out of his tool box, snipped the end off that hook, brought it back to me, climbed back in the boat, and trolled out to a NEW fishing spot. It was the last time we ever went fishing together in a boat. After that, we fished from shore with LOTS of room between us!