I am always trying to learn new things about how to better take care of fish! When I learn something new, that I think is valuable, I like to share it with other bass fisherman.

I have caught many fish at or over the 8 lber mark. I always made sure to get them quickly back into the water after a quick picture, and I though that was enough. I thought I was doing the right thing.

However, this weekend I saw a poster at Anglers Lodge in Amistad about how holdind a big bass a certain way almost always breaks its jaw bone! I was horrified when I learned that the way I always hold big bass usually injurs the fish in such a bad way.

The poster said that you should never hold a bass verticly by the lip. The weight of a big fish aand the pressure are hands place on the jaw cause it to snap almost everytime

I quickly ran through my phone cam a realized that I have broken about 10 jaws this past year. I was very upset about this. However, if I can teach at least one person the right way, it will make me feel better.

The propoer way to hold thes big fish is with 2 wet hands. One supporting head region and the other near the tail.

Next time you pose witha big one, remember this. And spread the word!

Good advice. But dont think that every time you hold an 8Iber vertically it broke their jaw. I always use two hands. lol.

This is age old advice that is rarely followed by a lot of folks

You'll hear the pop if it was broken, and when you release it won't be able to close its mouth. Good advise for all of us who chase em.

First, you probably didnt break every single fish's jaw, so dont get too upset.

Second, you are correct. A fish isnt exactly designed, nor will it ever adapt to being out of water during its lifetime. Water also has bouancy and a fish definatly is not made to have it's weight hanging from its bottom lip. However, as fisherman, we tend to treat fish in ways that they arnt designed for. It is hard not to. Even those of us that try to treat fish (specially big fish) as best as we can, still do things that arnt good for them.

It is impossible to catch , weigh, measure a fish without damaging its protective slime, putting excessive weight on its jaw, keeping it out of water longer than it should be... etc.

All you can do is try your best to minimize the damage, and give the fish the best shot at surviving once it is back in the water.

Break the jaw after theyre cooked. Its
alot easier.

Good point.. I wish more folks would.

I learned to hold bass with two hands back in the 80's when I started catching trophy bass.

It's also best to unhook them in the net or in the water so their weight is supported then pick them up with both hands when making your photos.

The less you handle and put stress on any fish... especially a large fish the better their post catch & release survival rate will be.

You don't have to hear the jaw break to do the damage, You can dislocate the jaw and not relize it, and they'll have a hard time feeding

Just as often their jaws are severely injured by having their jaw popped by a hard hook set. It's always good to do all you can to prevent further injury to the fish though. They are always injured from being caught though. Just something we as fisherman learn to accept I guess.

All great advice, I have a hard time breaking old habits and find myself holding fish wrong without thinking. As far as I can tell I have never broken or dislocated a fishes jaw but I have caught fish with broke jaws and with parts of their jaws missing.

I put a post on here the other day after watching Bill Dance.It seems he does not know about breaking their jaws.Then you see some of the pros shaking them at the camera and yelling at them while holding them by their lower jaw.I have noticed posters and seen articles alot lately trying to educate us all.

Someone needs to advise Bill Dance on these findings!

You ever watch how he lip-locks and holds the fish he catches?

Really,if you want to be careful,leave them in the water,unhook 'em,and let them swim away.

the 15 pounder from choke pic is a great example of how to hold a big bass. i agree with ttu, u might have broken a few but not all, hard to say without seeing the pics, but my point is hyperextending the jaw while holding vertical is the main reason it happens.

I don't know about this... I understand you can break the jaw, and I dont like it... But what I'm thinking is 95% of the fish at Fork are held up high by the jaw. So do they all have broken jaws? Maybe that explains the lack of bites out there.