When I was about seven or eight years old, I hooked a Garfish about two feet long. Although I got it over the sea wall and onto dry land, there was no one around to help me get the hook out without cutting the line.
If you are familar with a gar fish you know that they have a long mouth filled with sharp, needle-like teeth. In those days hooks and corks were keepers and allowances were small. The Gar flopped and thrashed while I tried to figure out what to do.
Just in the nick of time the answer appeared in the form of our lawn man, Mr. Oscar, who just happened to be walking by. I asked him if he could get the Gar off the hook without ruining my hook. Of course, he said yes--if he could have the fish. A deal was stuck.
All a big success as my line was not cut, the hook was saved, and Mr. Oscar went home with dinner.