I can get em off the hook without even touching them. Im not scared of em and fish for em all the time. I just handle enough of em I dont want slime 2" thick on my hands.
Grab line ABOVE the hook about 12" with finger hanging down vertically with left hand.
Take a small diameter rope (para cord, trotline line...anything).
Wrap it around your fishing line with right hand.
slide para cord down the line to the bend of the hook (that is in the fish's mouth)
Pick up on the paracord while keeping it in the bend of the hook (Raise your right hand directly above your left hand)
Then give a swift jerk upwards with the right hand and the hook will just easily pop out of fish's mouth. Be holding the fish over water and or ice chest and you will never have to touch him at all.
I am right handed
IF LEFT HANDED.....USE OPPOSITE HANDS MENTIONED ABOVE
After reading this it seems like this is too much. I have done my share of commercial fishing and can tell ya, it is the easiest way I have found to even get a hook out PERIOD and you dont even have to touch the fish!!! Litterly I bet I can do it in less than 2 seconds.
I have a couple trotlinning Arkansas videos on youtube if you want a visual. But I did not emphasize that trick but I do it to every fish caught. Disclaimer....I was a high school in the videos and they are not very good hahahahahaha. I was just playing around on youtube.
Search Slade Stroh on youtube and my videos will pop up.