Just curious.

Thanks. So you are puncturing the air bladder? Wouldn't that be harmful in the long run? Does anyone know if these fish actually survive past a tournament?

Also, anyone have any opinion on the "FlipClip" as an alternative?

http://flipclipfishing.com/index.html

Finally, when you hard hook a fish and keep it out of the water too long getting the hook out, and it goes belly up, is this because of air in the bladder, or is it just belly up because it is dying?

Postoak,
Fizzing is a proven method of saving fish from an almost certain death if nothing is done to release some of the air from the fishes air bladder. If too much air is released the fish will sink to the bottom and this will also cause the fish to die.

B.A.S.S. and TP&WD have done several studies on fizzing and have found that the fish will survive to be caught another day if fizzing is done properly. The preferred fizzing method is through the side because there are less vital organs to cause the fishes death when compared to going through the fishes mouth.

If fish are released immediately after being caught, many of them have the strength to return to the deeper water and will recover. However, when the fish struggle for several hours in a live well to maintain an upright position in the water, they no longer have the strength to keep from floating to the top. Predators, exosure to the sun and wind/waves forcing the fish upon the bank will eventually kill the fish.

Just attended a seminar at the TP&WD Athens Fishery. Very informative meeting.

The TP&WD currently recommends that most hooks today will not rust out quick enough to prevent starvation and should be removed by the angler. Going through the gill plate, if the fish is hooked deep, is the recommended method. When the fish turns belly up, it could be for both reasons you gave. Fish will bleed to death very quickly and every effort should be made to prevent bleeding.

FYI,
BLT staff

Thank you!

It is really easy to do. Try it at least your giving the fish a chance at surviving.

cool video. I was fishing with Rick Carter during camp bass and we came across a bass around 8 pounds and we fizzed her and took a jig out of her mouth and she swam away fine. good feeling to see a big fish swim away to fight another day, only next time i hope the angler can land their fish! great method to help a fish survive

Very interesting. Thanks for posting.