Nice fish

It died in the lake fork marina cove 48 hours later. We were pulling in our boat and it was floating belly up in the way of my trailer as i was about to hook my boat up. Thought it was a dead carp because it was so big and didn't want a dead fish stuck between my boat and trailer as i was going home. Waited for the fish to float away and after i hooked up the boat, went back to look at the fish and MY GOSH it was a massive bass. It was about 90% dead and just barley moving its gills. So my buddy and i tried to revive it, thought we could, but this fish was already full of CO2 and couldn't swim down. There was nothing in its mouth, at that time, which was 36 hours after the fish had been caught. After we tried to revive it we went into the Lake fork marina shop up there and she told us and showed us a picture of the guy that had caught it the day before we saw the fish. It appeared to me that this fish had a broken back and side. The side of the fish was red and while we were trying to revive it, his body just could not get straight. I think that the fish broke its back in the livewell because it couldn't fit in there and then the gentleman transferred it across the lake and then brought it to the store to show everyone, which puts a TON of stress and wear and tear on a old fish like that. Lesson learned, just release the fish if you catch one like that. Take your pictures, weight, length and etc... but no need to put it in your livewell and transport it across the lake, unless your fishing a serious tournament.

Thanks

Sad to see!!! Just take a quick pic and weight after the catch and put the fish back in the water as soon as possible.

Couple questions and comments for txstate2012.

First, what did you do exactly to revive the fish?

If you could tell her air bladder was over-inflated, why didn't you fizz her?

A bass has one spine with ribs coming off it, so she didn't have a broken back. She couldn't straighten out for the same reason she couldn't stay down, air bladder.

I agree with you on the stress factor and the CPR, but not everyone does. The man didn't break any laws.

Another lake fork giant and her demise from mishandling and not taking good care of! Brutal!! And a lot of people wonder why they don't catch as many anymore!

Good thing is from all she got to spawn and her babies will grow if they survived

Lol...buncha 'holier than thou' fish-care crusaders.

Man coulda given it a grease bath and fed his family if he wanted to.

Just don't get why some of y'all want to rain on a parade so bad...jealousy I suppose.

It is sad the fish died, but the guy could of just kept it. He wanted to get some pics and a weight on the fish of a lifetime! You guys should ease up a bit, but I'm sure all of you have never harmed one bass.

I for one don't mind people pointing out that the fish died. Maybe it will make others think about it when they catch a big one and they take their picture at the boat and get it back in the water and it survives for others to enjoy. Today, I'd be shocked to hear that someone is fishing without a phone capable of taking pictures. There is a reason that catch and release works for lakes. You want to eat it, go ahead but don't kill one just for a picture

How do you de fizz a fish????? I have heard several of y"all talk about it but no instruction on how to do it

Suxs to see a nice one like that die

Hopefully this thread saves a few fish! Here's a link to place you can find the needles. http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Bends_Mender_Deflator_Needle/descpage-BMDNP.html