Largemouth bass died.

[slonezp]

A bass? Salmon for sure. Nix the butter for olive oil

[MN Fisher]

Bass, Crappie, Bluegill, Trout, Salmon, Tilapia,etc-etc-etc  - I cook all my fish the same way

[TnRiver46]

Yeah that recipe sounds awesome 

[slonezp]

Beer batter or Zatarans for the whitefish. Trout and salmon get the olive oil and spices

[MN Fisher]

Thing is - I detest deep-fried anything.

[slonezp]

More power to you. I do not mind whitefish(bass, gills, etc.") on a plank or just grilled. I prefer them fried.

[thediscochef]

4 hours ago, gimruis said:

I'm guessing that tournament rules prohibit them from keeping any fish.  Its also possible that some of those floaters succumbed to delayed mortality.

 

Either way, this is partly why I support immediate catch and release formats instead of live weigh ins.

I completely agree. You can tell I don't tournament fish, I didn't realize it wasn't cool to keep dead fish lol

I get why that's a rule but also...dumb rule

[Tackleholic]

I agree that 2-4 minutes is way too long, but here is an additional and proven fact :  "a large fish may easily receive internal damage if it is held vertically only by the lower lip."  Did you do that?

[garroyo130]

On 10/28/2023 at 5:42 AM, VTFan said:

My opinion is that maybe her heart gave out from the exertion after being hooked. 

 

[Zcoker]

Are you sure it was dead? I've had big bass go belly up or float sideways looking dead until I gave them a rod nudge. 

[Zcoker]

On 10/28/2023 at 6:46 AM, padlin said:

I think 2 to 4 minutes is a long time, but what do I know.

 

It's a bit long but not as long as the quote from a Field & Stream article:

 

"Research has shown that bass can survive out of the water for more than 10 consecutive minutes " 

[Swamp Girl]

When I net a bass, I lay the net across my canoe's gunnels while I activate my camera, position my bump board, and open my needle nose pliers. Only then does the fish come out of the net. I free it with the pliers, sometimes measure it, and photograph it. That's typically 60 seconds or less. Then it's back in the water. 

[ElGuapo928]

Sometimes it just happens. Even fun fishing I usually keep one livewell full with a cap of Rejuvenade in it….any fish that doesn’t look or act “right” gets 10-15 minutes in the ‘well with the aerator running. 99 out of 100 bounce right back and are ready to swim away. The ones that don’t bounce back go in the other livewell (with the ice) and head home to the Weber.

[greentrout]

Catch and Release Black Basses (texas.gov)

[Kirtley Howe]

3 hours ago, Zcoker said:

 

It's a bit long but not as long as the quote from a Field & Stream article:

 

"Research has shown that bass can survive out of the water for more than 10 consecutive minutes " 

Key word is "can", not "do'. The less time out of the water the better. But sometimes no matter what you do or how carefully you handle a fish, it will not survive. It is difficult to judge how much delayed mortality there is. We do know that catch and release works at least most of the time. If it didn't you would never catch a fish that had hook marks in its' mouth. Try to be careful with the fish and limit its' time out of the water, but don't get in such a hurry to release the fish that you cause it more damage by handing it roughly. One thing that bothers me is when I see fishermen and woman toss a fish back into the water. A lot of pros that I like, and for the most part admire, are guilty of doing that. (Ben Milliken I am looking at you). Please PUT the fish back in the water, not TOSS it back. l have no proof that tossing a fish back will hurt it, but why take the chance? One thing I really like about the MLF (despite all their recent and on-going problems) is the fact they penalize a competitor if they don't reach over the gunnel to release the fish. If they toss the fish back, they sit for 2 minutes. I wish B.A.S.S. would pass a similar rule.

[thediscochef]

3 minutes ago, Kirtley Howe said:

One thing that bothers me is when I see fishermen and woman toss a fish back into the water...Please PUT the fish back in the water, not TOSS it back. l have no proof that tossing a fish back will hurt it

 

I agree with you for the most part, but I think Utah DWR has a difference of opinion though 

 

[Kirtley Howe]

Yeah, and I have watched fish of various species blast partway up a waterfall only to crash back down....but I still don't like seeing a fish tossed back into the water when it does not have to happen. I do think it is less harmful to smaller fish--less mass less impact force, or less surface area (body) on the fish  equals less harm (think of the difference between doing a belly flop as opposed to a clean dive into the water).

 

[gim]

13 minutes ago, Kirtley Howe said:

but I still don't like seeing a fish tossed back into the water when it does not have to happen

I agree.  Whether or not there is scientific data to prove that tossing a fish back has a negative effect, it's something within our control.  As is how long the fish is out of water.

 

Setting a good example at the highest level would be beneficial too.

 

if you intend to release a fish, then do everything in your control to ensure that happens.  That includes not putting a fish in the live well so you can take a glory photo later holding two of them.  Get your tools, scale/measuring board, and camera ready ahead of time.  Organization is good practice.

[Zcoker]

42 minutes ago, Kirtley Howe said:

Key word is "can", not "do'. The less time out of the water the better. But sometimes no matter what you do or how carefully you handle a fish, it will not survive. It is difficult to judge how much delayed mortality there is. We do know that catch and release works at least most of the time. If it didn't you would never catch a fish that had hook marks in its' mouth. Try to be careful with the fish and limit its' time out of the water, but don't get in such a hurry to release the fish that you cause it more damage by handing it roughly. One thing that bothers me is when I see fishermen and woman toss a fish back into the water. A lot of pros that I like, and for the most part admire, are guilty of doing that. (Ben Milliken I am looking at you). Please PUT the fish back in the water, not TOSS it back. l have no proof that tossing a fish back will hurt it, but why take the chance? One thing I really like about the MLF (despite all their recent and on-going problems) is the fact they penalize a competitor if they don't reach over the gunnel to release the fish. If they toss the fish back, they sit for 2 minutes. I wish B.A.S.S. would pass a similar rule.

 

I totally agree. I was only bringing up the time quote because I was curious myself. Seems excessive, imho. 10 minutes is a long, long time! The shorter the time, the better, in my book. As for dive bombing these fish face first into the water, can't understand that one. I've followed some augments that have said the fish need the extra rush of water to get the gills going. They do the same thing to GT's, head first dive bombing them back into the ocean with the idea that a rush of water sets them off. This may be true for certain species, and may be why the practice has been carried over to other species, bass included. In any case, I see no reason why a fisherman cannot squat down and gently send a fish off. Seems simple enough to me. Now, as for handling a fish while in the water, maybe rocking it back and forth to get it energized, I don't necessarily agree with that one. Down here in the Florida everglades there's big hungry gators laying on the shallow bottom watching your every move! 

Edited October 29, 2023 by Zcoker

[Vilas15]

On 10/28/2023 at 4:16 AM, Mike L said:

The next time hold her by the tail and gently move her back and forth after you put her in the water.

Don't drag them backwards. Just get them in the water and they'll move the water over their gills on their own without swimming.

 

After a big fight its best to keep them in the net for  moment to catch their breath or throw them in the livewell to recover before pictures. Imagine running a 100 yards then having to hold your breath for another minute. I think the fight then being out of the water immediately is tough on them.

 

[WRB]

Still loving to hear what was said? 

1st congratulate your friend a 7.25 LMB is atrophy catch for NLMB. The fact the old girl rolled over didn’t indicate it was dead, it indicates it was highly stressed. The easiest way to revive a stressed bass is get the bass back into the water which your did. If the bass is struggling to remain upright hook the bass again in the upper lip with the jig and walk it around the boat until it starts to swim on it’s own. If the can remain right side up then release it.

The fact it died isn’t the end of the world, it’s old bass and they are fragile fish our of water.

Tom

 

[A-Jay]

I respect other's opinions on much of what is in this one

but sometimes I don't share them.

When used responsibly, Catch & Release into a properly maintained live well

is not a death sentence.

When legal to do so, I 'use' my live well - quite a bit too.

Have not realized any difference in fish mortality rate either way. 

So sometimes I do 'Glory Shots' with one bass.

And sometimes I'm holding two bass.

 

In the end I think we all learn as we go and

being good stewards of the habitat is never really a bad idea.

YMMV

A-Jay

 

 

[the reel ess]

On 10/28/2023 at 2:17 PM, GreenPig said:

Sometimes a fish just dies on you. I strive to weigh, photograph, and have them back in the water inside a minute.

One thing I like about the kayak is I can hold the fish in the water while I fumble around for my scale and phone with the other. 

[dodgeguy]

On 10/28/2023 at 6:13 PM, Skunkmaster-k said:

It happens. I ate a 9 # largemouth this summer. 

I would have done the same thing. I agree with the guys saying use a net and cut down the time if possible. Sometimes it happens.

[Darth-Baiter]

on a kayak, I use a donkey leash.  I go so fast, the donkey leash ends up in many of my pics.  

 

in Brazil, we killed on big peacock.  we saw the fish laying under water.  guide scooped it up, and they took it back and cooked it "asada" style.  I assume they grilled it.  it was a bummer, but he showed us the cut in the gill from the unfortunate hook position.  boo!!

 

he was surprised a group of piranha didn't mow it down.  (I think that was what he was trying to say)