Knives and gunfights

[lefty]

Referencing my recent exploits at Ft. Fisher (http://www.ncangler.com/forums/f3/kf...fort-3854.html (KFNC Meet & Greet early report - Fort Fisher (Kayaks)))...

Originally Posted by Topsail Angler

If it was a cobia, you might be glad he didn't get into your net still alive. Never go to a gunfight with a knife! Cobia with life still in them have been known to rearrange a few things on a boat or a person.

Been thinking about that adage... I of course was not looking particularly for this gunfight, not sure I could have avoided it without sacrificing the fishing I was looking for... So... knowing the limits of my knives, when I wound up in a gunfight, what should I have done better?

Should I set a more sane time limit for playing a fish? If it's not showing definite signs of weakening after x-number of minutes, I oughtta cut him free? Or should I factor in identifying the fish (or hooked critter of whatever genus), again with a clause that if it remains unseen after x-number of minutes, I probably don't want to see it?

I'm not sure I want to add a fighting gaff to my rig right now... I was considering (even before this) that my next combo was gonna be one step more stout than what I've been using. Perhaps that would have allowed me to put a bit more oomph on this guy and worn him down sooner.

What's the common thinking? There's always a limit to the fight you're prepared to get into...