With lactic acid burning in her weary muscles, the salmon finally submitted to the force of the heavy graphite meatstick and 50-pound line. Unceremoniously, she was dragged into the shallows and then booted onto the gravel bank with a swift kick amidships. As she lay there on the bank stunned, gills gasping for breath, her captor took a set of pliers to the large treble hook that was buried in her tail. For leverage, he stepped on the fish’s head and pulled with all his strength. Eventually, the terrible hooks tore free, removing a large chunk of flesh as they went. The man then unsheathed a long, silver blade and split her belly lengthwise from vent to chin.
With a sun-chapped hand, he reached inside her quivering, eviscerated body cavity and served her one more graceless act.
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