Mistreatment Of Bass By Professionals

[CeeJay]

I'll often watch tv bass tournaments as well as other fishing shows, which are usually hosted by highly experienced anglers.

I am shocked that some (not all) pro anglers still mistreat the bass they land. 

 

Some examples I see way too frequently:

They will drop them on the boat, hold them up to the camera by the lip at a neck-breaking (horizontal) angle, or "release" them back into the water by tossing the already stressed fish from a height of 8 feet.

 

These acts are much more common among ignorant anglers and kids I've seen on the water while fishing through the years.

But most of them have the excuse of ignorance, whereas professional tv hosts and tournament anglers do not.  The pro's have supposedly devoted their lives to the study of their target fish...so they should certainly know how to cause minimal damage to bass.

 

Maybe I'm wrong and bass are indeed invincible, but I doubt it.  Any thoughts?  Am I the only one who cringes whenever it happens?

 

-It's important to mention that I'm not just talking about tournament anglers...By "professional" I'm talking about any angler who has a tv show.

[Senko lover]

Competing at that level, getting the bass in the boat could be worth 100,000 dollars, or a spot in a classic, or 500,000 dollars. So, they get it in any way possible. As far as holding them so they are bending at the neck.....that's a different story. Bugs me too. 

[gardnerjigman]

ehhh... I'm feeling some interesting comments coming... sticky situation. I'll just sit back and watch this one 

[Rented Mule]

You aren't the only one who cringes when they see it. It's been a sore spot with me for decades. Hauling them overboard, slapping them against the side of the boat, holding them down on the carpet with their foot. Squeezing them in the "Alabama death grip", tossing them recklessly into the livewell, holding them up and screaming into their face. I consider it rude and irresponsible behavior from people who should show a little more respect for the animal that their life revolves around. I guess they consider them as a constantly renewable resource.The worst are the TV show guys who hold the fish out of water for a minute or two while they prattle on about just how they caught it. I'd like to grab those same guys by the back of the head & stuff their head underwater for the same amount of time and see how they like it. Good post.

[CeeJay]

Competing at that level, getting the bass in the boat could be worth 100,000 dollars, or a spot in a classic, or 500,000 dollars. So, they get it in any way possible. As far as holding them so they are bending at the neck.....that's a different story. Bugs me too. 

 

Yeah that's what makes it more baffling to me...bass anglers are pioneers of catch and release.  Some publications refuse to show any trophy fish unless it's held correctly for the photo. 

But on tv I see this neck-bending grip way too often.

 

The way that bass in your avatar is held for the camera shot is perfect, by the way    Plus it shows the fish in all it's beauty to support it just as in your pic.

[CeeJay]

ehhh... I'm feeling some interesting comments coming... sticky situation. I'll just sit back and watch this one 

 

Your avatar shows the bass being held perfectly as well....there has to be a slight angle of course, or else the bass will never stop moving and would be impossible to grip.

I'm just talking about dropping, throwing or injuring the spinal column of a bass by improper lip holding. 

haha I'm not trying to start controversy, I thought it was all common knowledge.  

[gardnerjigman]

Your avatar shows the bass being held perfectly as well....there has to be a slight angle of course, or else the bass will never stop moving and would be impossible to grip.

I'm just talking about dropping, throwing or injuring the spinal column of a bass by improper lip holding. 

haha I'm not trying to start controversy, I thought it was all common knowledge.

 

Well, I care about the fish and all the guys I fish with handle them the same way. It's common knowledge, but some people don't have common sense, there inlays the problem. Good post and any good post will stir up controversy. That's what usually brings some of the most educational posts (and also some of the most entertaining  )

[Ratherbfishing]

$$$$ changes everything......."

[hoosierbass07]

  Yeah, I think I was watching a Jimmy Houston show a few weeks ago and he was holding a bass by the lip with one hand and trying to hold it more horizontal than vertical and he kept talking and talking and talking and I was thinking "man, how long are you going to hold that bass like that and keep on yapping?"  

[Catt]

I guess y'all need to quit fishing cause hooking them hurts their feeling!

[Montanaro]

I guess y'all need to quit fishing cause hooking them hurts their feeling!

This

They are fish and they are numerous. They are also stupid tough. Nobody is abusing fish for devious satisfaction.

Not to mention that if it weren't for bass fisherman, the population of bass throughout the world would be much worse off.

[CeeJay]

This

They are fish and they are numerous. They are also stupid tough. Nobody is abusing fish for devious satisfaction.

Not to mention that if it weren't for bass fisherman, the population of bass throughout the world would be much worse off.

 

It's about ignorance, not knowing how to respect your prey.  I didn't say anyone is doing it for some evil purpose.

I was referring to the professional tv anglers who love bass as much as I do.

[CeeJay]

I guess y'all need to quit fishing cause hooking them hurts their feeling!

 

haha More likely they feel embarrassed by being caught

 

I just think people whether catch and eat, or catch and release, or tv show or whatever,  should treat the fish ethically.

And when they don't do so it just bothers me.

[K_Mac]

haha More likely they feel embarrassed by being caught

I just think people whether catch and eat, or catch and release, or tv show or whatever, should treat the fish ethically.

And when they don't do so it just bothers me.

The problem here is that we are not all going to agree on what ethical treatment is. For some of us tossing a fish gently back in the water, or laying a fish on the deck or in the grass for a photo shoot is no big deal. For others it is a serious offense. I think most pros are careful with the bass they catch and understand while they are not bullet proof, they are not so delicate that they must be handled like fine crystal. Fishing is, catch and release notwithstanding, a blood sport.

[F14A-B]

haha More likely they feel embarrassed by being caught

I just think people whether catch and eat, or catch and release, or tv show or whatever, should treat the fish ethically.

And when they don't do so it just bothers me.

With all due respect to your post. What is ethical?

In your opinion...) I think at some point, folks have to come to terms that we ( people ) have very little, if any, control over the issue. I might suggest that if you really feel that strongly, perhaps you could shoot a email to the production company and the " pro's " that you witness what you believe to be a wrong doing. I've heard it said that fishing is a blood sport. I neither agree or disagree with that, to me, it's just a hobby...most bass anglers treat the fish better than at anytime in history, it is just a sport, to some, it's their living.

[CeeJay]

With all due respect to your post. What is ethical?

In your opinion...) I think at some point, folks have to come to terms that we ( people ) have very little, if any, control over the issue. I might suggest that if you really feel that strongly, perhaps you could shoot a email to the production company and the " pro's " that you witness what you believe to be a wrong doing. I've heard it said that fishing is a blood sport. I neither agree or disagree with that, to me, it's just a hobby...most bass anglers treat the fish better than at anytime in history, it is just a sport, to some, it's their living.

 

You and K_Mac above have hit the nail on the head about ethics.

It's very true that what I consider cruel may be considered ethical by another angler's standards, and the other way around as well.

[Crankenstein Crony]

As bass fisherman, if we don't take care of the bass or their habitat for that matter, who will? I do my best to make sure the fish I catch go back in the water in the same shape and just as healthy as they came out. 

[CeeJay]

As bass fisherman, if we don't take care of the bass or their habitat for that matter, who will? I do my best to make sure the fish I catch go back in the water in the same shape and just as healthy as they came out. 

 

Very well said. 

(Unfortunately I tend to ramble on and get distracted when writing/talking and forget my original point).

[flyfisher]

It's about ignorance, not knowing how to respect your prey.  I didn't say anyone is doing it for some evil purpose.

I was referring to the professional tv anglers who love bass as much as I do.

I bet they love them more since their dinner and house rides on catching them.  I do my best to not injure fish and hold them properly but some fish will die no matter what I do but trying to minimize it is the goal.  Allegedly major tourney series have a pretty good mortality rate so it must not be a big a deal as we think.

[frogflogger]

I have fished for bass for a long time - One thing I've learned about this subject is that I can only control how I treat the fish. 

[Catt]

haha More likely they feel embarrassed by being caught

I just think people whether catch and eat, or catch and release, or tv show or whatever, should treat the fish ethically.

And when they don't do so it just bothers me.

What do you do to insure the bass in your home waters survive for future generations other that treat them ethically?

Do you attend local, state, or federal meeting concerning environmental issues, stocking programs, & other issues?

I personally know dozens of Pro anglers, fishing guides, & tournament anglers; they are all envolved at the local, state, & federal level.

[Steveo-1969]

I have fished for bass for a long time - One thing I've learned about this subject is that I can only control how I treat the fish. 

 

Words of wisdom right here.  I hate to see fish mistreated as well - held wrong, flopping around in the boat, etc.  For me personally, I never kiss my fish (that's just gross and may be mistreating the fish as well? ha-ha), but I always say "Thanks buddy" as I gently set them back in the water and watch them swim away. Species and size doesn't matter, they all get the same treatment.  My son does the same thing and I chuckle every time he thanks his fish.

[Glenn]

To that point:

 

http://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-videos/hold-fish.html

http://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-videos/revive-fish.html

http://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-videos/fish-handling-aaron.html

http://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-videos/fish-care-in-the-livewell.html

[Turtle135]

My opinion, If the major bass tournaments are going to preach "catch and release" (and pat themselves on the back for doing so) then they ought to be doing everything they can to release those bass in as healthy a condition as possible. Wouldn't hurt to show the professionals taking extra care of their fish so the general public can see and understand proper handling. If they are going to swing that bass around, jack and dislocate the jaw, that bass may swim away at release and then it will just die later. Might as well keep and consume those fish.

 

The tidal potomac river, just south of me, probably hosts as many tournaments as any body of water. Unfortunately I see bad handling practices down there all too frequently. A bag of bass (with no water) lying on the blacktop in the heat of August waiting to be weighed and then "released". A tournament director "releasing" a bag of bass from 10 feet high into 6 inches of water (if he had walked 40 feet he could have released them at water level but apparently he did not feel the need). I'm sure most of the competitors take good care of their fish but their actions are not as evident to the casual observer. There is an opportunity for the televised pros to set and promote a good example here.

[Covurt]

So none of you guys set the hook with enough force to rip a fish from cover? Never set the hook so hard the fish comes out of the water? I bet you don't use treble hooks either? Don't want one of those crank baits swiging around and hooking the fish in the gills, back, or side. Zoom down the lake with a livewell full and let them pound around in there?

 

I thought we were bass fishing. Not trout fishing.