When Bass are out of water

[Fishingmickey]

10 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.

The problem is your attributing human attributes to a fish that is not human.

Fishingmickey

[Spankey]

I wish the OP would post his underlying issue. Something happened. Something went terribly wrong. Hey, **** happens. Don’t beat yourself up over anything. You will not burn in **** over it. Most times when things happen like that it resparks your fish handeling. I had a musky die on me once. I catch them on occasion smallie fishing. He was on light tackle, did not want to cut my crankbait loose, felt good about landing it. Was summer, water and air temps were up. I thought everything would have went ok. It didn’t. He was legal. Another fish that hit my buddies grill. I sort of felt bad for a little while. But got over it quickly. I hooked up two more that day. Everything went fine on them. Smaller musky 27-33” fish. Now on my boat after that incident I have a net with extra long handle and big wide net mouth. **** happens. Don’t quit over it. 

[Hyrule Bass]

11 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.

most decent people dont intentionally want to harm a fish. but if youre going to be fishing then you got to toughen up mentally and get over this. everyone loses a fish at some point that they have caught. even if you dont realize it. fish could swim off fine and die a few minutes later due to your catching and handling it, and you would never even know it.

 

 

[MIbassyaker]

If harming or killing fish bothers you, then just give something back: use the occasion as an excuse to make a small donation to the conservation effort of your choice.

[BigAngus752]

3 hours ago, reason said:

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

Whoa, slow down there.  I've met quite a few spineless humans...

[WRB]

Bass can't breath air they breath dissolved oxygen in the water, a bass out of water is similar to you breathing underwater.

All of Gods creatures have feelings and should be treated with respect, a good sportsmen kills quickly and humanly. 

I look at bass as a renewable resource and harvest a few each year that are either mortally wounded or the right size for food.

Tom

[Deleted account]

52 minutes ago, MIbassyaker said:

 use the occasion as an excuse to make a small donation to the conservation effort of your choice.

High modulus carbon fiber credits, I like it..

[Ratherbfishing]

I don't think it is FUN for them but fish don't have the mental capacity to be emotionally "traumatized."  From my own observations (and I think research bears this out) it's more physiologically damaging for a fish (including bass) for their skin and/or scales (and slime) to dry up than any "breathing" issues.  So, if you're concerned about how a bass responds to being caught, your first thought should be to keep it wet.  The last fish I caught that seemed to have breathing issues was a bowfin I caught a couple years ago.  After being released, it continuously breached the surface as though it were trying to gulp in MORE air than what the water could provide.  But it wasn't a bass so...

 

Ninety-nine times out of a hundred (or probably more), when I place a bass back in the water, it simply swims away-perhaps wiser but no worse for the wear.  I can't read its mind but, really, I don't think even IT can read its own mind.  Now if such a time occurs when bass begin meeting with respiratory therapists or mental health counselors regarding PTSD, THEN I'll probably hang up my rod and reel.

[Glaucus]

If a fish that I catch dies, I leave it out for the animals to eat. If one is struggling and keeps going belly up and is a for sure death waiting to happen, I put it out of its misery. I know my fisheries well. I know where to place fish for an animal to chow on. I go back the next day and it's gone. Circle of life. I don't eat fish and I don't take anything with me to keep a fish, so leaving it for animals is the best I can do. Don't get upset about it. Just move on. 

[OCdockskipper]

8 hours ago, Krux5506 said:

...There's no good for a fish that comes out of being caught...

I disagree.  Every fish I catch gets a once over to see how healthy they are and if there is anything I can do to help them.  If I find a small parasite inside their mouth, I remove it it.  The same goes for any hooks or lures that the bass may be using as jewelry.  

 

A couple of weeks ago, I noticed the tip of something sticking out of the gullet of a bass I caught.  I pulled it slightly to see what it was, turned out to be a 6" Senko (not mine, i don't use that size).  I removed it from his belly & released him.  I guarantee that is one bass that is better off for being caught by me.

 

In regards to the trauma question, I believe a bass hooked in the mouth feels no pain, while a foul hooked fish may.  I came to that conclusion based on their actions when hooked.  A bass hooked in the mouth will pull the opposite direction, increasing pressure from the hook.  It is logical to surmise that any creature who feels pain while pulling against a hook will stop doing that and go in the direction of the pressure in order to relieve it.  That happens to be the exact action you see with some foul hooked fish, they swim towards you instead of fighting, as if they are doing whatever they can to alleviate the pain that is being applied to them.

[TnRiver46]

Deep fried fish and an ice cold bottle of suds can really change a man

[Glaucus]

2 hours ago, TnRiver46 said:

Deep fried fish and an ice cold bottle of suds can really change a man

Replace fish with a beef steak. Gimmie a nice IPA to go with it, some taters, I'm in heaven. 

[JustALineWetter]

Broiled fish and a good Irish Stout.

[slonezp]

2 hours ago, TnRiver46 said:

Deep fried fish and an ice cold bottle of suds can really change a man

I don't know about changing a man but it will certainly satisfy his appetite.

 

 

OP, Take up golf

[Bluebasser86]

17 hours ago, Steveo-1969 said:

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!!!!!!!!

I don't know, as bad as I am at golf, those fish in the water hazards would probably be safer if I was catching them and tossing them back then they are if I was plunking them in the head with my errant golf balls. 

[LionHeart]

Local, 

 

Good on you for your concern about the way you handle the fish you catch.  Obviously the ethical and sporting way to treat your catch has been covered many times.

 

How does a fish feel about suffocating while you take a selfie?  I have no idea but I wouldn't imagine they like it too much.  Do it quickly and get them back in the water.

 

If the concern of traumatizing your prey is enough to keep you from enjoying the sport,  you and I would make great fishing partners.   I'd get skunked every other trip and you be excited about it.  Give me a ring if you ever come to northern Texas

[localhost]

Last couple of years I've been getting really soft when it comes to hurting animals, and trust me I have no problem taking the life of some thing that is threatening my life. But a fish that's not the case I do enjoy fishing but having a conscious has started to ruin me.

 

When I was around 15ish I think I had no problem killing fish, but now day's don't wanna hurt anything or watch anything get hurt or killed, I am the same way with plants as well.

 

I can't even cut down a plant or tree without it effecting me.

Today I did catch a large mouth Bass that I ended up hooking inside where the gill is fish was blooding pretty bad, I did toss it back I was waiting to see if it was gonna come back up never did.

 

I don't wanna keep them but have been really curious to try Bass to see what it tastes like, problem is this Lake is used for run off water is dirty and the canal that runs to the lake has been found to have Feces and Bactria in the water so honestly I'm a bit worried about eating a fish from that lake.

 

Fish having some kinda worm that you don't see and then end up getting really bad sick months or years down the road never think about it having to do with the fish.

 

 

[scaleface]

 Sounds like you need to find a  different hobby if it bothers you that much . Metal detecting might be  fun for you . Some call it dirt fishing ..I get as much a thrill of finding an old silver coin or gold ring than I do catching a big bass .

[localhost]

@scaleface I was getting into that kinda thing took the metal detector out to the lake but was finding nothing but pieces of beer cans that were shredded by the mower they use out there Was finding a bunch of useless stuff haven't really figured out how to use the bounty hunter 4 tracker detector correctly yet.

It's basically the same when it comes to using a bait caster gotta find that sweet spot...

 

I think I might just go back to metal detecting now for this time of year we get no snow but the weather will be a lot nicer to be out in to do some thing like that, I don't think fishing is gonna be any good now till after spawn.

 

I personally don't want to take advantage of Bass that are spawning after seeing how a Bass will likely not come back to the spawn bed ruining the future of more Bass just isn't some thing I wanna do. 

[NittyGrittyBoy]

You dangled the bait and I had to bite this one. Because anglers fish for spawing bass, and the bass may not return, in no way hinders the future of more Bass. 

 

If that was the case, Fla alone would be extinct of bass because of that. But on the contrary, fla in my humble opinion, is still King of Bass fishing (sorry Texas and Cali). So please don't let that wrong thinking, stop you from enjoying time on the water. 

 

Until then, Good metal detecting Sherlock

[KDW96]

I fish and i deer hunt.(bownunt & gun ). I fish ALOT of large an small ponds. Some of them are over populated with bass an crappie. The owners have asked that i keep a bunch when im there. I do so, and most of what i take,i clean and give to those in need and family. I caught a 5lb7oz. that i new was not gonna make it. I didnt mean for it to turn out like that. But that fish and others,provided a nice christmas dinner along with the deer meat i give a elderly man an woman every year. 

I take 2 deer a year. 1 for me,and 1 for family and the 2 elderly. They are all very appreciative. There is nothing wasted, dear carcass feeds other wildlife, as do fish remains.

My point is, things will happen in life. Enjoy what nature provides you with, while you are on the earth.

[FishinDinks]

On 12/10/2018 at 9:41 PM, localhost said:

Last couple of years I've been getting really soft when it comes to hurting animals, and trust me I have no problem taking the life of some thing that is threatening my life. But a fish that's not the case I do enjoy fishing but having a conscious has started to ruin me.

 

When I was around 15ish I think I had no problem killing fish, but now day's don't wanna hurt anything or watch anything get hurt or killed, I am the same way with plants as well.

 

I can't even cut down a plant or tree without it effecting me.

Today I did catch a large mouth Bass that I ended up hooking inside where the gill is fish was blooding pretty bad, I did toss it back I was waiting to see if it was gonna come back up never did.

 

If this post is for real then its simple don't fish.  Also don't mow your lawn or eat anything.