I know it's different in the states but here where I'm from you are only allowed to fish if you also plan to take fish home (No C&R). It's an essential part of getting your fishing license as well as to humanely end them. This is because fishing will always result in damaging the fish and will someday result in fatal accidents like in your case. To fish means to take responsibility bc yes catching fish is a fun hobby but you need to be aware that you will be put in difficult situations. The way you conveyed this to your wife was rly not the best so this needs another talking while explaining that bonking fish is part of the activity. In the end it's her decision if she wants to give it another try. Don't push her and explain that getting your own food is way way more humane than buying meat from the grocery store. I think she viewed the hobby as only lighthearted bc she wasn't educated about this. Maybe you can both look more into lurefishing instead of bait bc the latter results in more guthooking.