Holding bass the wrong way

[bt fisherman]

I have heard that if you bend their jaw instead of holding them up right or "strait up and down" it affects the way they eat so they cant eat right and some times they die. What do you think about this?

[Marty]

It's a proven fact that holding a fish horizontally by the jaw can break its jaw, so be sure to cradle the fish with your other hand or else hold it vertically. It's also been said that the latter can harm a big fish.

[bass or bass ?]

Use two hands to hold your fish. They just brought you pleasure,  treat them with respect.

[Glenn]

As a general rule, you do not want to hold them horizontally by their lower jaw.  That said, fish under about 3lbs don't weigh enough to cause any damage.  But again, make it a standard practice to support their body if you want to hold them horizontally. 

[CWB]

Do not imitate Bill Dance. I cringe whenever I see him land a fish because he almost always holds it up horizontally. Let it hang straight down vertically holding the lower jaw or lift it up by the belly with your other hand for a quick horizontal photo.

[Bluebasser86]

Holding a large fish striaght up and down for any extended period of time can also damage their internal organs. Their skeletal system is not built to support their body weight like ours because they live in the water where they are nearly weightless. So by holding them anyway other than horizontally with 2 hands, they're basically crushing themselves to death.

[SirSnookalot]

For some species of fish it's illegal to take them out of the water to unhook them, take a photo or weigh them.  A story floated around, can't say for a fact that it's true, where some one photographed a tarpon out of the water and the FWC saw it posted on a forum, then somehow fined him.

I see extremes on both sides ( tv shows ) handling fish.

[CAdeltaLipRipper]

Its fine to lip a bass like that until they hit the 5 to 6 pound plus range,then it's better to use the other hand to support the belly of the fish.When i get a big fish, i always take a picture with me supporting the belly then i take a really quick one by holding the fish vertically then support its belly again right after the picture

[MonarkMcfaster]

Use two hands to hold your fish. They just brought you pleasure, treat them with respect.

This is the best I've heard.

[FL_Sharpshooter]

Who was it that posted about seeing some bass's lips split? Jaw was slit in half I think because of poor handling. Yeah, anyways all the answers are correct, give it some support on the rear end when holding it horizontal.  When you release it, hold it the same way and hang on to the tail until the bass swims away.

[Fishing Rhino]

Always release the fish back to the water as quickly as possible.  Be ready to take your picture.  Have your camera readily accessible if fishing alone.

When fishing with a buddy, have them get the camera, ready to take a picture.

Not many things bug me more than watching some host of a television show, hold the fish, admiring it from all sides, like it's the first time they've ever seen one and are trying to figure out what it is.  Then, after holding the gasping fish out of the water for what seems like an eternity they give it a pat and a kiss, then have to hold it by the tail to revive it when they finally get around to releasing it.  Catching a fish should not include subjecting it to show and tell.

[J Francho]

Use two hands to hold your fish. They just brought you pleasure, treat them with respect.

And get the hook out with what?  Your toes?

[Todd Driscoll]

Good info on big fish handling at TPWD ShareLunker link below.

http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/spdest/visitorcenters/tffc/sharelunker/handle/

[flyboy]

It's great to see guys addressing the well being of the fish.  Back when Ray Scott was doing the captains meetings before his tournaments he talked about tossing a fish into the bottom of the boat for your partner to put into the live well.  He said, "If you do that you just killed the fish, maybe not right away but you killed it."  Every time I see somebody swing a fish into the boat, like has become the style lately, I think of how Ray is reacting to that.

[bass or bass ?]

Use two hands to hold your fish. They just brought you pleasure, treat them with respect.

And get the hook out with what? Your toes?

I'm refering to holding the fish for a photo. Unhook it quickly while holding it vertically by the lip for smaller fish. For larger ones, keep a plastic trash bag close at hand to lay the fish on (to protect it's slime coat) while unhooking it, then pick it up with two hands for the photo before release.

[Fish Chris]

The best way to handle a bass is with common sense.

I think it should go without saying that to torque the fish into a horizontal position, by the jaw, with one hand, has got to be hard on the fish.

Personally though, I think far more bass are killed by anglers keeping them out of the water too long.

Especially the big ones, where fishermen didn't have enough foresight to carry a scale and a camera..... So now, they feel like they have no choice but to drag the fish all over hell and back, trying to find somebody with a scale and camera.

Use two hands to hold your fish. They just brought you pleasure,  treat them with respect.

And get the hook out with what?  Your toes?

LOL Exactly. If it makes you feel better, support it with two hands for horizontal photos. But I don't think a verticle, one handed shot will hurt "even a big bass" as long as it's quick, smooth, and gentle.

I have seen (and personally caught) too many big bass, which were held with one hand, for at least a short period before release, only to see the same fish caught again, a week, a year, or even longer than that down the road, obviously still thriving.

Recap: Always be ready with a camera, scale, and suitable sized livewell. Never keep the fish out of the water for more than 30 seconds at a time.... shorter if possible.

Fish

PS, Another thing you can be ready with....

Go by yourself a pair of end cutters. Then, if you should hook a fish deep, you can reach down to the hook point, and quickly clip off the whole point, barb, and all. Then, even if you leave the rest of it in the fish, it can easily expel it later.

I use mini-bolt cutters. But this is for fish with large enough mouths to fit both my whole hand + a pair of mini-bolt cutters, and of which to cut a heavy, 2/0 treble.

I suggest long handled end cutters for smaller fish, and lighter hooks.

[DTack]

I agree with Fish Chris!  Take a look at our photos for a nice visual!   

[SeanW]

See my avatar, its the best way to hold your fish. Another thing, dont lay the fish on boat carpet. Personally I use a rubber net, its not the best but its better for them then exposing em to carpet. You can also put something slick and wet down on the deck.

[SeanW]

I agree with Fish Chris! Take a look at our photos for a nice visual!

Actually dont do that. All the weight of the fish is on their jaw. Its in line, but its not great either. Support the fish with both hands.

[Stasher1]

IMO, the "bionic hookset" has more potential to cause long-term damage than improperly holding a fish for a photo.

I can't tell you how many fish I've caught that have enormous holes in their mouths, broken jaws, lips hanging off, etc. I caught one on Kentucky Lake a few months ago that had most of his jaw ripped off. It was only attached on one side, and was basically just hanging there. There was no way it would heal properly. It didn't appear to be effecting his appetite, but I'd be surprised if he survived.

[SeanW]

IMO, the "bionic hookset" has more potential to cause long-term damage than improperly holding a fish for a photo.

I can't tell you how many fish I've caught that have enormous holes in their mouths, broken jaws, lips hanging off, etc. I caught one on Kentucky Lake a few months ago that had most of his jaw ripped off. It was only attached on one side, and was basically just hanging there. There was no way it would heal properly. It didn't appear to be effecting his appetite, but I'd be surprised if he survived.

What makes you think that was from a hookset? Or are you assuming?

[CAdeltaLipRipper]

IMO, the "bionic hookset" has more potential to cause long-term damage than improperly holding a fish for a photo.

I can't tell you how many fish I've caught that have enormous holes in their mouths, broken jaws, lips hanging off, etc. I caught one on Kentucky Lake a few months ago that had most of his jaw ripped off. It was only attached on one side, and was basically just hanging there. There was no way it would heal properly. It didn't appear to be effecting his appetite, but I'd be surprised if he survived.

What makes you think that was from a hookset? Or are you assuming?

Are you assuming that it wasnt from a hook set

[DTack]

I knew that was coming, you can't see in the pic but my left hand is on the fishes backside to take weight off her jaw.

[Fish Chris]

Being rough with a fish, holding it wrong, laying it on dry boat carpet, on dirt, on concrete, bionic hooksets, etc, etc, etc, are all rough on a fish.

That's why I always just say, "use common sense".

It's great to be concerned about releasing a bass in a healthy state, but I also believe some people get carried away with the whole thing. It is "just a fish". If a persons sole concern in life is not to do anything that might possibly injure a fish, then why in the world are they out there trying to stick a sharp metal hook through it's flesh and bones, and drag it into a boat ?

And another thing; A bass could be drop-kicked back into the lake and still stand a better chance for survival than any of the ones that get taken home and thrown into a frying pan.

Peace,

Fish

[SirSnookalot]

If I were overly concerned about a fish's welfare I wouldn't be fishing in the first place.  I can't believe that any fish does not feel the hook, or pressure on the jaw while being horsed into a boat or dragged on shore.  As Chris says, " it's only a fish", and I'm not overly concerned.  Fish bought at the market commercially caught are handled rough, yet we buy them for consumption and never give it a thought.