Best way to resuscitate a stressed bass

[tentimesover]

What's the best way to resuscitate a bass that's unable to get going on his own after being in the live well.  I've been told to move it back and forth in the water to bring water over the gills.

Thanks in advance

[bigtimfish]

 

[Shimmer]

What's the best way to resuscitate a bass that's unable to get going on his own after being in the live well. I've been told to move it back and forth in the water to bring water over the gills.

Thanks in advance

I would agree with that. Get water movement going over the fishes gills, then hold him giving little wiggles and he should take off

[flechero]

best way to resuscitate a bass that's unable to get going on his own after being in the live well

butter and garlic

[Glenn]

Do NOT move him backwards, as that can damage his gills.  The gills are designed to take in water one way only.

• Put fresh water in the livewell (and NOT from the marina or boat launch, as there's oil and pollution in the water) and then close the valves
  
• Add ice - enough to bring the temp down by 10 - 15 degrees. That could mean a lot of ice!
  
• Add Please Release Me to the water
  
• Add approx 1/2 cup of Hydrogen Perixode to the water
  

For detailed information on fish care, please see this video

[Bronzefly]

Great info Glenn!  Fish care is all too often an afterthought with alot of guys I see at weigh ins...  :'(

[Hammer 4]

What if your shore fishing..?

[fourbizz]

Use Please Release Me

[bottledgt]

thats the only thing i got against tournaments. they usually are 8 hrs or more. if oyu catch one early, then hes stuck in a box for 8 + hrs. i dont see that ending well for a lot of them. on top of being took out later and being handled again,weighed,handled again,etc.has to be hard on fish

[Glenn]

If handled properly, it's not a problem.  The issue is not enough anglers take care of livewell environment like they should.  That's why we have about a dozen or more articles on the subject, as well as several videos.  Education, education, education...  

[Skinnyh2ofishin]

It's awesome to see more people taking greater strides to maintain the health of our bass.  I've worked quite a few tournaments with the FWC and have learned tons about what those bass go through.  The mortality rate is surprising after a long tournament, but I can happily say that it seems to be slowly improving with the push of information on keeping the bass healthy both in the livewell throughout the day and during the weigh-in itself.  

If you're fishing from shore you don't have the benefit of a livewell and release aids to help revive the fish.  What you can do though is take greater care to make sure the fish is out of the water as little as possible, and DON'T lay the fish on the ground or grass for a pic or beach them when landing.  If the fish seems to be having trouble getting going during release, just hold the bass very gently by the jaw, down in the water and allow it to essentially revive itself.  Snook in saltwater will actually hold on to your thumb to do this, and occasionally a bass will too, but a very loose hold does the same thing.  You basically just want to hold the bass upright in the water and when it's ready to go it will go.