Ever Had A Big Fish Die On You?

[Wbeadlescomb]

Was going thru some old pictures cleaning up my photo bucket and ran across this one. Caught her in a tournament it was a long fight and after we got her in the boat she just couldn't right herself.

Sucks because I can't stand killing a big fish.

[Wbeadlescomb]

This one died on the hook set. He was really skinny and sick looking don't know if that contributed to it. Only two over a 2 lbs I've ever had die.

[Shane J]

R.I.P. nice basses. Did you try fin clips on that first one? They really work well, combined with a good recirc system. 

[Wbeadlescomb]

R.I.P. nice basses. Did you try fin clips on that first one? They really work well, combined with a good recirc system.

No what are fin clips? I had a pro air system on that boat used please release me and I think it was on March when it's still cold.

[Shane J]

They're just small, weighted clips you put on the fish's fins to keep it upright in your livewell. Really cheap, and very effective. That being said, we can't save every fish, and it sounds like you did the best of your ability to keep her alive. Oh, and to answer your question, yes, I had a 5 lber die on me once after a sort of lengthy battle. I released her right away, but for some reason, she went belly up a few minutes later. I felt bad, but I know that I do my part and more to ensure that every fish lives to fight again. Just the nature of the sport sometimes unfortunately.

[Grizzn N Bassin]

Yeah had a 5 pounder croak on me it was a hot day. Fought her on light tackle and she just couldnt get it back. Doesnt feel,good but it happens

[RAMBLER]

Ditto on fighting one too long on light tackle.

[boostr]

I had a rod die on me once during a fight with a fish.

[Teal]

I've lost all 5 once. Live well died and I never noticed. Lost 1/2lb for every fish. In a game of ounces, that hurt.

[fishva]

Yeah, when I was a kid (probably 8 or so). I caught a bass that was probably 5 pounds, which was by far the biggest I ever caught. I wanted my dad to see it because I was proud, so I put it on a stringer and tied the stringer to the dock. It was probably a couple hours before my dad got there. The fish was still alive but very weak, and it ended up dying. I felt bad, but didn't know that would happen.

[Bassintheweeds]

Had twin 3.7 smallies go on me in the same tournament. If one would have made it I would have been $200 richer for big smallie of the year... Guess that happens when your boater decides to smallie fish in deep water then frog fish in July. They went from 70 degree water to 80 and it was too much

[Bluebasser86]

Had a 6 1/2 die on me once. I was crappie fishing with a small crankbait and she inhaled it all the way to her gills. That combined with a long fight on light tackle and water temps in the low 80's was more than she could deal with. I tried and tried to revive her but to no avail. Ran home and wrapped her in a wet towel and put her in the freezer. A couple days later she was dropped off at the taxidermist and now resides on my wall, a constant reminder of her valiant effort to escape, that ended up being her undoing. 

[Tyler j]

I was pond fishing with a horny toad and a 6 pounder ate it, so I swung and it went real limp died on the hook set

[AQUA VELVA]

I was night fishing with a friend when he had a huge smallie inhale his spinner bait. It was so far down it's throat , you could'nt see what you were doing. We took turns working on it , puting it back in the water for awhile then working on it some more but the big guy was going downhill fast. We finally got the lure out and held him upright in the water for a time trying to revive him but ,unfortunatly, the damage was done.

[Wbeadlescomb]

I've lost all 5 once. Live well died and I never noticed. Lost 1/2lb for every fish. In a game of ounces, that hurt.

Had that happen once fun fishing. We were keeping a few anyway. Had a fluke a fish spit up clog up the drain and the live well was holding old water.

[Rovingmutt]

I had a 2.5lb once that took about 5 min to get going, watched it swim away and thought i did my good deed etc... then an osprey came down and snatched it 20 ft from boat

[Evan Lip Ripper]

On 3/4/2014 at 10:32 AM, fishva said:

Yeah, when I was a kid (probably 8 or so). I caught a bass that was probably 5 pounds, which was by far the biggest I ever caught. I wanted my dad to see it because I was proud, so I put it on a stringer and tied the stringer to the dock. It was probably a couple hours before my dad got there. The fish was still alive but very weak, and it ended up dying. I felt bad, but didn't know that would happen.

It probably most likely died from stress.

[gim]

I had a 21.5 inch largemouth die once years ago because I deep hooked it wacky rigging.  Plus, it was pretty hot out and I'm sure the stress combined with where I hooked it likely combined for its mortality.  I tried reviving it for 15 minutes to no avail.  I wrapped it in a towel and put it in the freezer.  Its currently on my wall and to this day its the biggest largemouth bass I've ever caught.

[Kyhokie]

I had an average size thread from 2014 die on me, but @Evan Lip Ripper was kind enough to bring her back to life. ?