Someone had mentioned that bait often provided the deepest hooks into fish. I found the opposite this year at the canal/beaches and was interested in hearing what size hooks everyone was using. I caught hundreds of fish this year on bait but only had one go belly up because of a gut hook. I think I only gut hooked 2 or 3 all year (including one the other night). I found bait fishing to be far less damaging than the artificial route.
As far as the thrasing fish on release, I think Tim hit it on the head, a little pressure on the lower jaw and to sleep they fall. Again, most of my hookups where in the upper jaw so this worked well. The few I hooked in the lower jaw made life more dangerous but generally just as successful.
I am sure I had many more croak after they were free for a short time but still think the minimal handling (excluding the jaw) and quick release saved many fish.
Of course there were also many that need a little reviving before they would get moving.