Will A Bass Lose Weight If It Dies?

[arul]

I weighed in a fish that had died, and it seemed to weigh less than I expected, compared to when I caught it. Perhaps it loses water weight? If this happens, how much weight does a fish typically lose if it dies?

[Deleted account]

I weighed in a fish that had died, and it seemed to weigh less than I expected, compared to when I caught it. Perhaps it loses water weight? If this happens, how much weight does a fish typically lose if it dies?

21 grams. Oh no, wait.... that's for sole.....

[WRB]

They can loose up to 10% within a few hours due to lose of body fluids and stomach content, unless packed in ice right away.

Tom

[Jim H.]

They can loose up to 10% within a few hours due to lose of body fluids and stomach content, unless packed in ice right away.

Tom

That is a myth, A dead fish will actually gain weight, Science tells us that liquids concentrate in areas with the higher mineral content (osmosis) attracts water. That is one of the reasons tournaments give a bonus for alive and/or a penalty for dead.

[Nashua Nev]

This would be why a fish cannot be frozen before getting a certified weight.

[WRB]

That is a myth, A dead fish will actually gain weight, Science tells us that liquids concentrate in areas with the higher mineral content (osmosis) attracts water. That is one of the reasons tournaments give a bonus for alive and/or a penalty for dead.

Gain weight! When bass die from bleeding out, or over stressed they loose body fluids, they don't get water logged from osmosis. The reason you find dead bait parts in the livewell the bass released those contents and water doesn't replace it. Tournaments penalize dead fish to encourage proper handling to insure higher % of survival rates and discourage cheating.

The IGFA does recognizes fish like tuna from long range trips with fish put into salt water chillers (freezers)as long as the body cavities are validated not to contain added heavy objects. World record tuna are often weighed up to 2 weeks after being caught.

The next time you have a bass die; weight it immediately, then put it back in the livewell or a bucket of water and weight again 24 hours later and see if it gained weight via osmosis!

Tom