Clearly you need a sign indicating that this is a "catch-and-release" area. Now if we could only find someone to translate it into Maine Coonese (I did get the impression that Hex is from that part of the population, right?).

Although perhaps Hex had decided that part of the game should be trawling for people? You wave, he jumps, if he catches, then you get to follow? Turnabout is fair play, after all :-)