Bass Fishing Catch and Release Fish Care

Bass fishing tournaments all practice catch and release.  The intent is to allow the survival of the bass so they may reproduce and be caught again.

What is not clearly understood is that not all the released fish survive.  The survival rate depends on how the fish are handled prior to release and water temperatures.

High water temperatures seem to be the single most important factor in determining the survival rate of bass after they are released.  Water temperatures above 80 degrees increase the mortality rate of released fish by a factor of six.

Tournaments held during the winter, spring and fall are least harmful to the fish and 94% of bass released when the water temperature is below 65 degrees survive.  An average tournament catching and releasing 1000 bass will see 940 fish survive.

Bass fishing tournaments held during the summer months or when the water temperature is 80 degrees or hotter survive at a rate of 61%.  An average bass fishing tournament catching and releasing 1000 bass will see only 610 bass survive.   A VERY dramatic difference.

Other factors affect the survival rate such as the playing time of the fish.  The more you play the fish the more stressed the fish becomes.

Proper aeration of livewells and tournament weigh-in procedures also contribute to and increase in survival rate.

The two links on the top left of this page will provide more detailed information on fish care in the boat and at the weigh-in.

Thanks to Gene Gilliland, Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation Fisheries Biologist, for his very informative study and resulting recommendations provided here.

Please link to this site freely and print copies for your bass fishing buddies without online access.