WHAT SHOULD BE DONE????

[borderer]

This happened the other day, i was fishing the runner up at mannor on peebles crown water, when the line went tight and away we went. after a 20 minute scrap i landed a very red/brown 17lb salmon that was clearly close to spawning. problem was it was very deeply hooked and although i took as much care as possible the fish was bleeding very badly. after 10 minutes coaxing it finally swam away a little side up. what i want to know is
1st what are the chances of it recovering and spawning.
2nd if it had went belly up what do i do with the fish.
regards borderer

[borderer]

as you know martin dark gravid fish are no use for eating. and try get someone to smoke it and you will get the jail as someone i know will tell you. im like you give it a chance.

[guidduglucy]

Aye their not worth eating better to cut the line close to the hook rather than fiddle about doing more damage trying to get it out, at least it will spawn or have a better chance to.