When Bass are out of water

[localhost]

What do you figure is happening to the Bass while it's out of water, was curious if it will be suffocating or what the whole thing would be to them.

 

Back in the day I had no problem keeping fish but now ever since I started having a conscious I can't kill or watch a fish suffer.

 

Almost no fun now catching Bass only to traumatize them.

 

I've heard people say Bass are stupid but I have yet to find one that is.

[JustALineWetter]

Human = Predator

Bass = Prey

 

If you're worried about what a Bass feels, how can you be anything other than a vegetarian?

 

Fish are several levels below mammals on the taxonomic table so it's not worth worrying about.

[Glaucus]

Quite honestly if you are feeling you're traumatizing them by catching them, you've moved into a different tier of human and probably shouldn't eat meat you find in stores. 

[Bluebasser86]

I'm not sure of the exact science, but I don't believe that the effect of a bass being removed from the water is the exact same as us being submerged. I just try to go by the rule of only keeping them out of the water about as long as I can hold my breathe though to try and ensure a healthy release. 

 

Bass don't possess the mental capacity to be "traumatized" however. 

 

 

[Catt]

And the fear of you and the dread of you shall be upon every beast of the earth, and upon every fowl of the air, upon all that moveth upon the earth, and upon all the fishes of the sea; into your hand are they delivered.

 

They are meant to be food ?

[Oregon Native]

Read this....read this again...Oh my.  Only thing that came to mind was I wish we all loved our neighbors this much!!!  

They say even a tree can tell when it's getting cut down...sooooo....guess there's only one club you may want to belong too.

Best of luck.

[Dirtyeggroll]

18 minutes ago, Oregon Native said:

They say even a tree can tell when it's getting cut down...sooooo....guess there's only one club you may want to belong too.

Best of luck.

I don’t know, trees live a really long time...

 

Looks like a bass can stay out of water for about 10 minutes without any significant consequences.

 

Behavioral and physiological responses of the congeneric Largemouth bass and smallmouth bass to various exercise and air exposure durations.

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0165783607002056

 

My understanding is that the gills can still do gas exchange when the bass is no longer submerged if the gills are still wet.

[Deleted account]

6 hours ago, JustALineWetter said:

Human = Predator

Bass = Prey

Actually, both bass and humans are both predators AND prey. The Universe doesn't discriminate, It's the whole existential absurdity thing. 

[Mobasser]

1 hour ago, Catt said:

And the fear of you and the dread of you shall be upon every beast of the earth, and upon every fowl of the air, upon all that moveth upon the earth, and upon all the fishes of the sea; into your hand are they delivered.

 

They are meant to be food ?

Yep. Just like deer, quail, squirrels etc. If your not gonna eat em, put them back unharmed. Obey the rules and respect the laws, and all is good.

[Deleted account]

1 hour ago, Dirtyeggroll said:

Looks like a bass can stay out of water for about 10 minutes without any significant consequences.

Can't really make that determination based on the narrative of the experiment. There is a difference between it didn't die after 10 minutes, and it lived for nn hours (or days) after experiment. LMB are quite hardy and handle handling (ha) better than most fish. It doesn't surprise me that they are hardier than SMB, in fact fish that prefer warmer, murkier water usually do better when handled out of the water. Extremes in air temperature also has a significant effect on effects and survival.

[Spankey]

6 hours ago, localhost said:

What do you figure is happening to the Bass while it's out of water, was curious if it will be suffocating or what the whole thing would be to them.

 

Back in the day I had no problem keeping fish but now ever since I started having a conscious I can't kill or watch a fish suffer.

 

Almost no fun now catching Bass only to traumatize them.

 

I've heard people say Bass are stupid but I have yet to find one that is.

I know where you are coming from but try not to over think it too much. Get a pic and get them back in the water as fast as possible. I treat them pretty well I try like heck not to touch their sides and mess around with the slime coat. I have a live well also I can treat it also but I can imagine a live well has a certain amount of an effect on them also. I think keeping the stress level down is the most important thing but try not to drive yourself crazy over what you are doing. 

 

I caught this one river smallies back some years ago. Fishing like I normally would do. 4.5” drop/split shot type rig. Good hit, good hook set, great little fight for a short time. Hook set in the top of the jaw. When I boated the fish it seemed to be in trouble. Not sure why. Sort of felt bad because I put them all back. Did the live well thing but it didn’t make it. My buddy grilled him up. Did not go to waste. Did puzzle me some but you shake it off and move on. Was not my fault. And I’m not gonna stop fishing. 

[Dirtyeggroll]

1 minute ago, reason said:

Can't really make that determination based on the narrative of the experiment. There is a difference between it didn't die after 10 minutes, and it lived for nn hours (or days) after experiment. LMB are quite hardy and handle handling (ha) better than most fish. It doesn't surprise me that they are hardier than SMB, in fact fish that prefer warmer, murkier water usually do better when handled out of the water. Extremes in air temperature also has a significant effect on effects and survival.

Sorry, wasn’t referring to that experiment/manuscript about the physiology of gas exchange and gills being wet. Will update with source for that later.

[the reel ess]

If they were bigger and/or we were small enough, we'd be on their menu. LOL

 

I have often thought about that and even when I get a picture, I limit the time they're out of water. I'll even hold them in the water if it's taking a while. I'm sure they feel some flight instinct and it must be unpleasant to not be able to get oxygen for a while, like having the breath knocked out of you. They also have no eyelids and they usually try to shield their eyes when there's total sun either with cover or depth. So I imagine that's unpleasant as well.

 

I don't think you can attribute human feelings to them though. Their brain is basically one tiny stem of nerve. They're running on pure instinct. They just act and they have no thoughts as to why they do what thy do. If I was that concerned about their feelings, I'd probably stop sticking hooks in their mouths for fun. 

[Steveo-1969]

Sounds to me like the OP needs to sell his fishing equipment and buy some golf clubs. Y'all ain't gonna hurt that golf ball. WHACK AWAY!!!!!!!!

[Koz]

I believe that the fish think they are having an alien abduction experience. NO! PLEASE! NOT THE ANAL PROBE!

 

 

[NittyGrittyBoy]

@localhost I understand where your coming from, and it's really good that you realize you don't want to make the fish suffer only to please your narcissistic cause. 

 

That's why if you enjoy fishing, enjoy it well. Do your part when you catch fish to admire, photograph, and quick release. If it was traumatizing to the fish you couldn't go back to the same pond year after year and catch the same fish?! 

 

I like @Catt's response, they are food for us, like it or not though. That's something you must work out for yourself! 

[Krux5506]

He's not really wrong. There's no good for a fish that comes out of being caught. It just comes down to how much thought/emotion we really put into it. I've often wondered why certain militant catch and release fly fishermen even bother to fish. Many of them now are scolded for even photographing a trout out of the water, hence the "keep em wet" slogan. I understand caring for our fisheries but it seems if you're on that level then catching a fish is hypocritical. 

[NYWayfarer]

4 hours ago, Catt said:

And the fear of you and the dread of you shall be upon every beast of the earth, and upon every fowl of the air, upon all that moveth upon the earth, and upon all the fishes of the sea; into your hand are they delivered.

I think about this every time I watch "When animals attack" 

 

To the OP, just release your catch as fast as you can. If you are having trouble getting the hook out or taking a pic make sure you dunk the fish to get it wet. Helps the slime coat and gills.

[JustALineWetter]

2 hours ago, reason said:

Actually, both bass and humans are both predators AND prey. The Universe doesn't discriminate, It's the whole existential absurdity thing. 

I was talking specifically about Bass fishing and the relationship between fisher and fish. In this instance, my point was exact...Bass don't prey upon Humans, we're above them in the food chain.

[Deleted account]

9 hours ago, JustALineWetter said:

Fish are several levels below mammals on the taxonomic table...

Can't we all chordata just get along? Let's go bully some jelly fish....  

[JustALineWetter]

6 minutes ago, reason said:

Can't we all chordata just get along? Let's go bully some jelly fish....  

Why limit it - All Hail Animalia, we will overcome Plantae

[Big Rick]

9 hours ago, localhost said:

Back in the day I had no problem keeping fish but now ever since I started having a conscious I can't kill or watch a fish suffer.

 

Dude, you are on the wrong forum. The goal of this site is too better educate the fisherman on how to catch MORE fish!! And I, for one, am proud to be here and have learned much. If it's no fun then, by all means, put your equipment up for sale in the Flea Market and move on to some benign harmless hobby like golfing or even crochet. geez....

[NYWayfarer]

30 minutes ago, JustALineWetter said:

I was talking specifically about Bass fishing and the relationship between fisher and fish. In this instance, my point was exact...Bass don't prey upon Humans, we're above them in the food chain.

Now if Bass were the size of a cow, I would never go swimming in a lake again!

[Deleted account]

2 minutes ago, NYWayfarer said:

Now if Bass were the size of a cow, I would never go swimming in a lake again!

I'm picturing a big A-rig with GI Joe's (and maybe a Steve Austin in the middle) instead of swimbaits...

[Koz]

10 hours ago, localhost said:

Back in the day I had no problem keeping fish but now ever since I started having a conscious I can't kill or watch a fish suffer.

 

It's the circle of life. Last summer my son caught a bass and he had trouble getting the hook out. While he was working on it he took the time to drag the fish through the water to try and keep it alive. But when he tossed it back in the lagoon the fish went belly up.

 

Within a minute a turtle came along and dragged the fish into some cover for a meal. Sure, it's disappointing if you release a bass and it doesn't survive. But it's not like it goes to waste. Some turtle, bird, or alligator is going to make a meal out of it. That's how nature works.

3 minutes ago, reason said:

I'm picturing a big A-rig with GI Joe's (and maybe a Steve Austin in the middle) instead of swimbaits...

 

South Carolina lagoon cows: