Cutting the gills is essential for quality table fair. I don't like to rip out the gills, as I feel they bleed out much better with a couple cuts on different gills. Dikes work best, but I just use regular pliers. Just grab a gill with your pliers and twist till it squirts out, but it will bleed much more if you don't cut or break all the way through the gill. Corey mentioned the humane aspect, and I couldn't agree more. Speaking of humane, nothing beats the Halibut Bat, it ends the suffering instantly, after a couple of really hard thumps to the brain. It's really the least you can do, to minamize the suffering. Orrrrrr, enjoy the next thirty horrible minutes, while the fish oh so slowly sufficates, while begging to be placed back in the water. Buy a freaking fish-bat and think of sitting in traffic while doing a very good deed ( a couple of good whacks and
).