Does it annoy you how many people mishandle fish, laying them on the ground and lipping them at a 45 degree angle for pictures?

[billmac]

Yeah, it bothers me.

[gim]

4 minutes ago, AlabamaSpothunter said:

Saltwater fishing is just totally different.

Yes it is.  I've only been saltwater fishing twice in my life but it wasn't really anything like freshwater fishing.  Our guide said you can get a permit to lift a tarpon out of the water but they only grant it when the intention is to go after a state or world record to weigh it.

[thediscochef]

8 hours ago, bigspirit said:

Im only quoting you on this because it’s the next one I saw after my first post but this is not directed just at you - just a general comment. 
 

Here’s the thing…you (anybody in this case) would not know if you did kill that bass. If you cause damage to its jaw, it’s not going to just die in your hand. It will swim off as it should (provided normal/decent care was taken) only to have the possibility of dying later because it can’t eat, for example. You may be surprised how many people have released fish that swam off fine, only to die later from stress or handling-induced damage. 

Again, not directed solely at you - just pointing out the flaw with that statement. 

? 

 

I mean I fish the same cove 3 days a week, I feel like I'd be seeing more dead or skinny bass if I was handling them wrong. The herons in the cove are doing more to control the population in one day than I will in five years. You could make your comment without giving me a notification about it but everyone makes choices I guess. 

[suzuki2903]

Very much so and a shame most cannot take constructive criticism about this situation. The way I see it , handle a fish properly just as you would any other animal and possibly even your own pets !  Just because “it’s just a fish“ doesn’t mean you shouldn’t show it some respect, especially after shoving a hook through its mouth and yanking it to the boat or bank…..  

[Cdn Angler]

The one I find perplexing are the hordes of people that catch multiple fish and save them in a livewell until the end of the day for a picture holding 4 fish at the same time. I'm talking non-tournament angling. 

 

That's gotta be worse than a fish on the ground for a few seconds. 

 

To be honest though, neither bother me that much. Fishing in general isn't good for fish. If people are keeping them to eat then they are already a step ahead. Most people are ignorant and don't mean any harm. 

[bigspirit]

3 hours ago, thediscochef said:

?

 

I mean I fish the same cove 3 days a week, I feel like I'd be seeing more dead or skinny bass if I was handling them wrong. The herons in the cove are doing more to control the population in one day than I will in five years. You could make your comment without giving me a notification about it but everyone makes choices I guess. 

You’re right, but would you have seen it and the point about delayed mortality (thank you @gimruis) if I hadn’t? Maybe or maybe not.

 

 It is completely possible you are absolutely right - but for a spot that you fish so much wouldn’t you want to ensure you’re taking the necessary steps to take care of the fish? 
 

Think of it as constructive criticism. I didn’t bash you for it, actually quite the opposite. You’re right again though, everyone makes choices…like choosing to take offense over a polite post such as that ?

 

best of luck to you out there and stay safe!

 

[bulldog1935]

That's one heck of a conservation career, to give constructive criticism to others - not. 

The definition of a control freak is one who offers unsolicited advice. 

It's especially remarkable when they have no knowledge of the people they're criticizing, the skills and commitments those people may possess. 

Sooner or later, this topic appears on every fishing forum, always with bad result. 

[thediscochef]

16 hours ago, bigspirit said:

It is completely possible you are absolutely right - but for a spot that you fish so much wouldn’t you want to ensure you’re taking the necessary steps to take care of the fish? 

that you openly and directly assume my ignorance on this matter is offensive. Do you really think I would fish daily without being tangibly invested in the health of my local waters and mindful of my impacts? Do you really go around questioning everyone so assumptively like this? Insufferable

[Tackleholic]

On 9/27/2022 at 7:49 PM, PhishLI said:

I pay heart stopping taxes to live in Nassau County. These public waters here and the fish in them are mine as much as anyone else's. C&R is the rule county wide for black bass, period. Even if you accidentally kill one, it goes back in to feed the cats and turtles. Get caught removing a dead one by the DNR and they'll drill ya. However, if I'm in the next county over at a lake with a daily limit, I mind my business, because it's not my business.

 

I do my best to take care of my catches here. They stay soaked in the water until I'm ready to snap a pic, even if my gloves become saturated in near freezing water during the process. I spend as much time as necessary with them afterward to make sure they swim off vigorously. I do my best to follow the law, and to let them go and grow. Regrettably, I've killed 3 this year with deep tongue hookings, and it knocked the shine right off of the outing for me. I'm not in this to kill fish.

 

If I happen to see someone dancing around with a bass out of the water for too long, or dragging one on the ground, I have no problem tactfully letting them know that they're probably going to kill the fish. No lectures unless they ask questions. Most people respond as if they're embarrassed, then soak the fish or let it go, and nobody has gotten lippy with me yet. I'll gleefully call the DNR officer on the bucket brigades though. Most don't have licenses anyway, or speak the lingo, and the majority of them are ruthless, sneaky, poachers.

 

 

Good for you, ph

[garroyo130]

inb4 this is shut down

[Revival]

I think a lot of people are not aware that holding a fish at 45 degrees can injure the fish.  I know I wasn’t until someone mentioned it.

 

What is worse for me is when someone feels they need to make a fish do flips while releasing it back in the water.  Totally unnecessary.  

[MAN]

Today I learned that holding a bass at a 45 degree angle can hurt him.  I honestly have never heard of this before.  

[Ohioguy25]

50 minutes ago, MAN said:

Today I learned that holding a bass at a 45 degree angle can hurt him.  I honestly have never heard of this before.  

https://news.orvis.com/fly-fishing/pro-tips-stop-lip-grip

 

Common sense really if you think about it, these are animals that spend their entire lives in very low gravity. Suddenly suspending them by their tiny lip and having their entire body weight pull on their fragile jaw at an awkward angle can permanently disable their ability to properly feed.

[N Florida Mike]

I take what others say and then apply my experiences. Ive fished on my home lake for 48 years now. I’ve caught thousands of bass in there and  and released the majority of them.  I lipped nearly every one of them, including the bigger ones for pics. Ive laid some down on the ground too. I can’t remember ever seeing a dead bass other than the one fish kill we had, or ones that were injured by the hook and didn’t make it.

My conclusion: It doesn’t hurt the fish.

If you want to do it differently, more power to you…

[fishhugger]

i don't care for it, particularly ---- people keeping fish out of the water too long, etc.. but i try not to pay attention.  like others have mentioned, i just try to pick up any mono i see lying around. the trashier the place --- some people practically unspool their whole reels, leaving lots of line just strewn there.

 

[Swamp Girl]

On 9/27/2022 at 11:34 AM, Choporoz said:

My wife yells at the TV when a Jimmy Houston or Scott Martin or anyone else stands there holding a fish and yapping away before tossing it back.  

  I see lots of stuff on the interwebs that bothers me.  Not too often that I feel the need to confront virtually....unless I think I can do it in a particularly understated witty and passively aggressive way....sometimes discretion goes out the window

Me too! A bass is drowning when it's out of the water. To use them as a prop while you jabber grits my teeth. 

 

I want to say, "I know you just caught a big fish! I'm not senile. Your bona fides are in place. I'll listen."

[PressuredFishing]

Doesn't bug me, eating bass doesn't either because bass are a very common sport fish, bring up fish like the pasific  coho salmon in norcal and that's a different story

[NorthernBasser]

Bass lives matter. 

 

I have so much respect for these fish that bring me so much joy and excitement. Once I land one, I try to do everything in my power to handle it properly and get it back into the water as soon as possible. I will, however, take a quick pic here and there. 

 

What others do is their business. Though naturally it bothers me some if I see someone mishandling these fish. What bothers me the most is these guys who boat-flip these bigger bass and just let them slam into their consoles or onto the deck of the boat. I have no issues with boat-flipping, but have some control at least. 

 

 

[geo g]

Bass are not a fragile organisms or they would not be as prevalent as they are from Canada to the Everglades and from Jersey to California.  They live in a violent environment always bumping into thick vegetation and structure and avoiding bigger stronger predators.  Many believe they are fragile, they are far from that!  I never mishandle them, but over they years I have found many thriving after some vicious injuries' they received during their life.  They will survive!

[the reel ess]

On 9/26/2022 at 10:06 PM, bigspirit said:

I’m honestly pretty surprised to see the responses in this thread. I personally do not agree with the “not my business” sentiment. It is a resource that is public, why would you not want the general public to do their best to take care of it? Just like littering. 
 

It is a rather well known fact that you can damage the jaw of a bass, larger size atleast, by holding them at a 45 degree angle by the lip. Similar to snook. It may not lead to them directly dying - but can affect their ability to feed thus getting the appropriate nutrients. 
 

Think of the masses that fish. Truly think about that for a second and then think of the effect it could have. 
 

Im not trying to sound like I am on a high-horse. I have certainly mishandled fish before I knew better, but now I do what I can to take the best care of each fish I catch. It’s not hard. Some people just don’t want to hear that they are wrong I guess. 
 

However, it’s not a hill I would die on. My bigger gripe/annoyance is putting fish in a live well and bouncing them around all day just to get a picture at the ramp. Especially around the time they are spawning. 

I don't disagree with any of this. I would show anyone who was fishing with me or I knew would be receptive. But we live in an age where people will shoot you because you changed lanes in front of them.

[Dan N]

Geez where I’m at some guys purposely kill bass , because many look at them as trash fish. Every legal walleye is kept to eat, yet the populations keep on. I really doubt a few fish dying of mishandling effects anything. That said, I try to release fish unharmed.