What is Filet And Release?
1.
The subtle art of catching fish out of season, removing the meat, then releasing the remains back to the sea.
This is mainly done to avoid being caught by a Fish & Game warden, and thus avoiding a hefty fine.
A takeoff on the term
"It'll have to be filet and release, if I catch a salmon on this fishing trip, since the season was over last week."
See