Tourney Fishing VS Catch and release

[airborne_angler]

Wondering if any tournament fishermen(women) have ever caught a legal keeper size fish during a tourney,and released it,forgetting they were fishing a tourney.

Or is Tourney fishing that intense that theres no way a mistake like that can be made?

[Bassn Blvd]

No way have I ever made that mistake.  I have, however, had fish jump out of the livewell that cost me a tourny or two over the years.  >

[SMSRTC]

I've never come close to having that happen.  I have dropped fish that made it back into the water though. 

I think a more likely mistake would be forgetting to cull (not that I often even get that chance).

[fishfordollars]

Had them jump from the live well.(More than once).

Culled the wrong fish.(More than once).

Released one and immediately wished I had put it on the measuring board.(Many times).

Inadvertently pre released one when it comes unhooked in the boat and bounces back in the water.(Many times).

One time had the bottom break out of the weigh bag walking up the dock.(Just once). Now place the bag in a net when I feel the need.

Thankfully i have never tried to weigh a short fish or come to weighin with more than a legal limit(not yet).

If it can happen I have had it happen.(Too many times).

[etommy28]

I hve seen it happen, we were catching short after short, then my parnter had a 2 pounder and tossed it back like a short. >

[J Francho]

I was culling out 12" fish when I realized the lake had a 15" limit, LOL.

I've never tossed the wrong fish back, but I've had all sorts of stuff happen at the livewell, and at boatside.  Once watched a fellow club angler lose BOTH fish off the culling beam - and then watching him try to chase the culling tags, LOL.

[b.Lee]

I was culling out 12" fish when I realized the lake had a 15" limit, LOL.

I've never tossed the wrong fish back, but I've had all sorts of stuff happen at the livewell, and at boatside. Once watched a fellow club angler lose BOTH fish off the culling beam - and then watching him try to chase the culling tags, LOL.

LOL at you J

[Catt]

I've dropped em over board

I've kick em over board

I've had em wiggle off leaving a hook in my thumb

I've swung em from one side of the boat back into the water on the other side of the boat

I've taken the larger one of a balance beam & tossed it back while thinking ya dumb cajun.

And one for the ole school guys; back before live wells left the stringer in the water & hit wide open throttle.

[salmicropterus]

I think there have been numerous instances of Elite guys bringing in 4 and thinking they had 5 and Tommy Biffle I rthink came in with 6 at the classic this year. I figure if it can happen at the level it's going to happen top numerous times

Funniest one I ever saw though was a guy pulling a 6 out of a live well holding only one of those wooden balls on a culling loop. Well, the weight of the fish pulls the loop right out of the ball and he's left holding the balll with a 6 swimming away.

[squid]

I was on Kentucky Lake fishing against the owner of the trail I fish in and work for(big tournaments only), caught an 18" showed his oldest son, who was in our boat, and tossed it back into the water....lol.  I have no idea who was madder...me, or his son.  The owner was in another boat with his partner and his youngest son.  They beat us by 1/2 lb...lol....oops.

[Tin]

I have had 2 smallies netted that would have given me a win in a Bassmaster Weekend Series Divisional. Both were in shallow rubber nets, one threw the hook and the others' line snapped on the set screw of the net. So both were in the net, came unbutton, and flopped out. I was going BS. It was also the morning after the now famous spider issue I had.

I have also had smallies jump out of the livewell while reaching for ones to cull and get out of the boat,  >

[fishfordollars]

I have had 2 smallies netted that would have given me a win in a Bassmaster Weekend Series Divisional. Both were in shallow rubber nets, one threw the hook and the others' line snapped on the set screw of the net. So both were in the net, came unbutton, and flopped out. I was going BS. It was also the morning after the now famous spider issue I had.

I have also had smallies jump out of the livewell while reaching for ones to cull and get out of the boat, >

X2 Tin. Suggestion, throw the net over the livewell opening. It helps.

[backpain...]

I've swung em from one side of the boat back into the water on the other side of the boat

I laughed out loud at this one. I am pretty new to tournament fishing, and have only fished a few so my mistakes have yet to be made.

[evrgladesbasser]

I think there have been numerous instances of Elite guys bringing in 4 and thinking they had 5 and Tommy Biffle I rthink came in with 6 at the classic this year. I figure if it can happen at the level it's going to happen top numerous times

Funniest one I ever saw though was a guy pulling a 6 out of a live well holding only one of those wooden balls on a culling loop. Well, the weight of the fish pulls the loop right out of the ball and he's left holding the balll with a 6 swimming away.

This has happened to me which really sucks when you catch 30 or 40 fish and show up short....

[Matt Fly]

Made a few of those bonehead mistakes myself.

   I did learn from Jim Bitter, I have always put a worm bag on one side to protect from fish jumping when livewells have been opened when going to the weighin bag.    I cover all sides if possible.   Thats one practice I can think an old pro for.

[Matt Fly]

one for the ole school guys; back before live wells left the stringer in the water & hit wide open throttle.

;D I still do that from time to time.

I'll catch a cat while bassin and decide to keep it for supper, alot of times, I put them on a stringer to keep the slime out of the livewells and filters.

    Had them skiing before ;D

[ww2farmer]

I had a fish on the board checking to see if it was 12" when it went crazy and got away from me. I also have had the live well escapees, lucky that neither hurt me in the end, but once I had 3 good fish that may have put me in the money on a jig during one TX shake free. After the third fish got off I checked the hook point  to see if there was a problem, and duhhhhhhhhhhhh..............I had the jig with the hook I cut off pre-fishing still tied on.