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When I fished Clipperton Island we would catch on average 15 large tuna per day per angler yet were only able to keep one due to fish hold limitations. Alot of those fish were hooked on jigs (PL 68's). The crew was very proficient in releasing these fish while at the same time getting your jig back. Similar to the release poles pictured above the crew would use the standard bamboo boat gaff. While the angler would keep the rod tip down and pull in the opposite direction the crewman would use the gaff point to wrap the exposed hook and pull in the opposite direction. A couple of tugs and the jig would just pop out and the tuna would swim away without ever having to be taken out of the water.
As far as the pic of the yellowfin gaffed through the roof of its mouth and removed from the water it sure seems there is a lot of blood pouring out of that fish onto the deck. I doubt that fish would actually survive if released.
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