lots of bait fishers drag fish up on shore through the rocks, gravel and sand. seen it lots. Alot of time due to not wanting to touch a fish.
you never know , coulda been non experienced fishermen just starting out, dont know how to read regs, used one of the most crappiest bait rigs known to man, we call it the pickeral rig, the hook got way down and they tried to do surgery to get it out.
sounds like a crappy day wildman. Dont let the thought of me being in Manitoba right now fishing up a storm ruin your fun