question on possession limits

here is my question>>>>> if the possession limit is 4 walleye and both fishing partners have 4 walleye apiece on the stringer....does that make you illegal if you are still catching and releasing....since "technically" for that short time while you are netting, unhooking, and releasing ..there would be a short time when you did have 9 fish "in possession"........am i wrong in my reasoning???