Strangest way you've ever landed/hooked fish?

[walkerr2]

1. Took a break to eat lunch at Elephant Rock pier in Tiburon. Left my rod on the pier rail with the lure dangling about 4 feet above the water. When I turned around my rod was vibrating. An 18 inch striper had jumped up and grabbed the lure.
2. While fishing in the Alsea River in OR I caught a coho salmon which was not hooked. The line had become tangled around its nose. The bait was about 1 foot away.

 

[mav]

Odd way of catching but good catch.

 

[cHEAVYguy650]

Catch and release of 25 lb striper. I was using a 1/4 ounce hair raiser after work in San Mateo's polluted lagoon. My coworker joined me enjoying his liquid medication unlike my medicating activity. I told him sorry 15 more casts as I pursued to catch something. On the 20th cast lol I felt a hit and quickly set the hook. Using brand new 8 pound test mono on my abu garcia bait casting combo. I set the hook the size and ferocity was realized. Trying to avoid a floating drift log the fish seemed to aknowledge and target I fought to turn the fish. The next turn he snarred the drift wood and continued to pace back and forth. I managed to lose the log and landed the behemoth.

To my disbelief the fish was hooked in the outer most layer of his eye. Feeling some disappointment in the foul hook I dismissed the foul hook disappoitment acknowledged the known attack and return to consume prey. I removed the hook avoiding permanently damaging the eye and released the fish which swam off healthy.

How could the outer most layer of a 25 pound fish sustain integrity during battle

I'm 6'3" and 350 pounds. First fish to make me look smaller.