The Value of Big Bass

[WRB]

This is one of my favorite topics; the value of big bass verses average size bass. Tournament fisherman make thier living catching 3 pound average young adult bass, where 5 bass limits equal 15 lbs will get a check at 90% of the events. To win a tournament event the angler may need to have at least 1 kicker or big bass 5 lbs or more.

That isn't my main point however, it's the value of truely big or giant bass that I'm talking about. Events like Falcon Elite 50 this last weekend and the Amistad event comming up, that focuses the value of big bass on the bass fishing world. Every bass fisherman or fisherwomen dreams of catching the bass of a lifetime, their personal best or PB 5 bass weight, if you tournament fish.

The true giant; a NLMB over 10 lbs or a FLMB over 15 lbs are special bass and should be protected by those who bass fish. Killing these special big bass is common, but usually not intentional. The big bass are fragile and don't survive in livewells very well for several reasons.

1. Excessive handling to show off the catch, which is only natural. Taking photographs, weighing, etc. The handling over stresses the bigger bass. On average the survival rate for big bass in less than 33% for C & R. Livewells aren't designed for big bass, low DO levels and high water tempaeratures ( over 70 ), combined with excessive handleing are primary factors leading to high mortality rates.

2. Live bait fishing during the pre spawn to post spawn period. It is easier to catch big bass on live bait, so more are caught by live bait fisherman. It's not the gut hooking, althought that can be an issue, it's the simple fact that more big bass find their way into home freezers or mishandled. Tournament fisherman don't fish with live bait during an event, but some do during fun fishing.

If big bass excite fisherman to go out and purchase tackle, boats and get them involved in bass fishing with the promise or dream of catching one, then big bass have a value beyond prize money, they are the sole of our sport and we should treat them as the valuable treasure they are.

WRB

[Bob Lusk]

Hear, here! Big round of applause!

As a long time private sector biologist, I still get goose bumps every time I see a double-digit bass.

In this business, I help people grow big fish. Here's another way to look at the value of a giant bass. First, it takes AT LEAST ten pounds of baitfish for a bass to gain a pound. For a bass to grow to ten pounds, that's 100 pounds of baitfish over its lifespan, just to grow...that doesn't count what it takes to maintain. If you or I, depending on what part of the planet we live, were to buy those baitfish to feed our bass, the cost would average $10 per pound. That's $1,000 to grow a bass to 10 pounds. If that doesn't cause us all to respect that fish, keep in mind it has to live at least 5 or 6 years, maybe more, to grow to that size. Mishandled, that gem of a fish can die in three days (or less.) It's important we know how to handle a fish, especially those big ones. I do this for a living and I always look at a big bass with reverence.

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

I agree and well put WRB.  I think the 2 crucial areas concerning the future of this sport are jr involvement and conservation.  I'd like to class your line of thought under conservation.

[Possum]

awesome post... the bass in my Avatar weighed in at 15.5 lb..... I kept it out of the water a little longer than I wanted (about 45 seconds) for pics and such... then I laid on my stomach with both arms in the water moving her back and forth getting water flowing through her gills until she was strong enough to swim off on her own... man that was as good a feeling as catching her... then I proceeded to answer and explain to my 6 year old son why I released her and how to release her instead of just tossing her back in... I have seen too many medium to large bass go belly-up after being carelessly tossed back in... I hope that lesson sticks with my boy

[roadwarrior]

15.5 is an impressive fish, but if you caught it in Virginia, even more so.

The fact that the BassResource.com members that are able to catch these

monsters always release them is a credit to our group.

Kudos to you, Possum!

BTW, Welcome aboard!

8-)

[WRB]

awesome post... the bass in my Avatar weighed in at 15.5 lb..... I kept it out of the water a little longer than I wanted (about 45 seconds) for pics and such... then I laid on my stomach with both arms in the water moving her back and forth getting water flowing through her gills until she was strong enough to swim off on her own... man that was as good a feeling as catching her... then I proceeded to answer and explain to my 6 year old son why I released her and how to release her instead of just tossing her back in... I have seen too many medium to large bass go belly-up after being carelessly tossed back in... I hope that lesson sticks with my boy

Thanks.

Your bass looks really healthy, dorsal fin upright in defensive posture, good color, don't think you need to worry how you handled that bass. That is a giant NLMB! congratulations.

WRB

[Shakes]

Great post, WRB.  I completely agree. The future of this sport is catch and release. I've seen people catch bass that are 10 -12 inches and talk about having a fish fry. Around here, regardless of any laws, people keep what they catch and eat it. Public lakes are overpressured, and the only good fishing is the small untainted farm ponds around the area.

[skillet]

 Really good post WRB (and the replies so far)! Haven't had to worry about this on a personal level yet :'(.... ;D...

                           As Ever,

                            skillet

[JRL]

1. Excessive handling to show off the catch, which is only natural. Taking photographs, weighing, etc. The handling over stresses the bigger bass.

WRB

I rarely even take my fish out of the water.  I Normally unhook them boat side while still in the water then let them swim off.  If I do handle a larger fish for photos I support it by its jaw and stomach at the same time.  It makes my stomach turn when I see pics of big bass being handled by their jaw only.  Not saying thats the wrong way to do it, but its definitley not the best.

[Quinn]

Can someone post links to any articles here on BR or other places on the web that addresses the handling and releasing bass?

I have changed my ways since being a member here.  I used to keep all fish that were legal and eat them.  Now I do focus on selective harvest in the water I fish.  I usually just get them back in the water, but I know there is more to it than just dropping them back in.

[Cory20]

Can someone post links to any articles here on BR or other places on the web that addresses the handling and releasing bass?

I'm no expert, but here are some things that I keep in the back of my mind while releasing and handling.

Rule number 1!!    Anything that Bill Dance does, you shouldn't.  

Handling.

- Always wet your hands to prevent rubbing off their protective slime.

- Don't let them flop around on the carpet, removes slime like sandpaper would remove our skin.

- If holding by jaw alone, hold vertically.  A bass's lower jaw does not take abuse well.  Even a 1 or 2 lb fish can have their jaw seriously damaged by mishandling.  This will lead to an inability to feed, then death.  Most of the fish's weight should be supported with your other hand on their belly.

Here is a thread on lipping fish with good pictures.

http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_forums/YaBB.pl?num=1207538665/6#6

-  Have your tools for release on hand and ready.  I used to overlook this and would be fishing around for pliers causing completely unnecessary stress on the fish.

-  Don't touch their gills (duh).

-  A rubber coated net is much, much, easier on a fish than the old nylon ones.  

-  The matter of hooks differs from person to person and there have been a few times in tournaments where I wish I had an extra hook in a good fish.  When "fun" or "free" fishing things are different.  Flattening barbs greatly reduces damage to regular and gut hooked fish.  I've noticed on my three trebled jerkbaits and topwaters that the rear hook is rarely hooked on the inside.  That hook gets them in the gill plate, the top of the head, and the eye more often than not.  Spooks and jerkbaits are not eaten gently with the front hook doing most of the heavy lifting.  A Jimmy Houston release never hurt anyone  

Release

-  If possible keep the fish in the water during hookout.

-  I don't like the way a belly flop feels when I do one, I can't imagine fish do either.  

-  Again, I'm no scientist, but I know when I'm sprinting and running around for a while that I'm out of breath.  I know that during this time my muscles are producing energy anaerobically.  Lactic acid and carbon dioxide is produced and retained in muscles.  This is what makes them sore and cramp.  I think the same or very similar thing happens to these fish that are fighting so hard.  When we breathe the fish it's like the NFL lineman putting the oxygen face mask on.  

What I do to breathe a fish is support the fish by the belly a little ways behind the gills and hold them in front of the tail.  I then move them back and forth, slowly moving water past their gills.  Like so many things in fishing, the fish will tell you when they're ready and swim off.

Other

There are some special situations, such as caring for fish in livewells, how to unhook gut hooked fish, and what to do with bleeding fish.

This thread contains good information on proper fish care while in a livewell and when bleeding.

http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_forums/YaBB.pl?num=1205107829/0

I know I've read a few threads here about successful techniques for unhooking gut hooked fish.  I couldn't find any in a search though, anyone know where they are?

I know most of my ideas or techniques are common sense.  I know most of the problems on the water that I have had and read about on here aren't (fortunately) of catastrophic nature.  They are caused by a lack or forethought and common sense.  Things like not charging the batteries the night before, not checking knots and damage on the line, properly set drag, making sure the drain plug is in etc.  They are all easily avoidable, as is the mishandling of a largemouth bass.