Never once gone anywhere near a Bass' gills during landing and/ or releasing any! Yes I see too many still do... but I've known since childhood that's wrong if releasing! (Basic fish Biology!). Not only that... Bass have no teeth worth fearing! I can get a lip- grip or if not cradle the fish in shallow water easily enough!
SD, point is simply: verify w/ your Boga all weights of Bass you'd like-- among the ones you're keeping! (You're weighing your Large kept Bass I'm guessing on that Boga?)
Bass to be released: better to be off 1- 4 lbs. or so on the exact weight in your estimate if need be... just let the big girls go as gently & with as great odds of survival as possible! If you're releasing them anyway... & would like a shot at catching that fish again 20 lbs. heavier... that's only logical, right?
"Show me the slips" I know! Yes guys exaggerate their Bass' size I know often!... but that's about their kept Bass-- not released! No one listens to or cares about how big someone else's released fish are-- unless it's a very credible friend! When C & R'ing, you're only looking to impress yourself with your catch-- your toughest critic!
-- no one else!
I know of a boat- guy who landed a Bass obviously close to 60 lbs. last year in NJ... and DIDN'T weigh it/ didn't want to get the exact weight to brag with... BECAUSE his choice was to release it!
At least I'm not like Howard Stern he has to go through a undercarrige wash and a look in the mirror. imagine a mirror in your toilet
scarry thought just ask Maco Joe
. .. I don't get it, if y'all are SO worried about hurting the fish, you may want to think about giving up fishing, .....you will definately hurt less fish that way.
...it finally happened, there are no more secret spots
Hybrid Mode
