[Moz]

I don't think it's a question of etiquette. It's really no different than gut-hooking a fish when your mindset is to only do C&R, especially if you get one that's not of legal size that you can't keep and make use of as a meal thus it's a wasted kill.

If you're using small hooks/lures on 2 LBS test the hook will rust out and it shouldn't kill the fish. If it's personally unsettling for you than go with a higher pound test line but personally I would think it's cool to have landed something someone else clearly didn't!

I remember reading something somewhere about the ethics of killing a fish that has to go to waste and the gist of it was you knowingly take that risk every time you set out fishing and have to accept the consequences of it happening.