Pond Boss Forums GENERAL QUESTIONS Wildlife Management Texas Parks & Wildlife - warning on holding bass

"ShareLunker #559 Large-mouth Bass has died of a bacterial infection resulting from a broken jaw",

"Remember to hold bass correctly--with two wet hands, to prevent broken jaws and help prevent damage to the protective slime coat."

Mark, I saw that today on TFF.

Here's a quote taken from the folks at La Perla Ranch, who donated this LMB, about all this. FYI, these folks were getting hammered, which is sadly the norm on TFF.


"Not if you believe in this program like I do. You may call me a moron. Maybe you are right. Probably not. This fish would have sent over 200,000 fry to public waters in Texas, then the same back to me, along with the fish as well had we handled her correctly.

The next one we catch will be headed to them as well, as soon as we are so fortunate. Morons sometimes do that kind of thing. The difference is, we will do a better job of handling the fish. I never heard of a broken fish jaw before, and neither had my son, who feels terrible about it. Everyone is in morning, and feel sick in the stomach, but nobody took it as hard as the good folks at the Athens Hatchery, and as it turns out, it was not even their fault.

We thought we had one from our first paid guests on Saturday but she had already spawned and only weighed 11 despite having the length.

ALL FISHERMEN READING THIS......LEARN FROM THE DEATH OF THIS GORGEOUS ANIMAL, THAT HER DEATH NOT BE IN VAIN....do not hold the big ones vertically or otherwise by the lip without another wet hand supporting the weight from below her belly."

I was trying to locate a picture of the jaw being held with no support. Most had the fish with belly supported, but I did run across the vertical held position photo. Didn't they just catch this fish a few days ago?

Al I hope one day I get the chance
to hold a fish like that correctly.

My biggest is only 6.5 lbs.
My brother used to tell me I would
have several larger if I had only
used Spider Wire...probably correct
because I've lost some monsters,
but I've always liked mono-filament line.

Sb, she was just caught. HERE'S a pic of the fish.

Mark, you'll get your XXL LMB. You're doing everything right.

I'm guilty of holding a few bass over 10lbs with one hand. This one I tried to support it better than previous ones.

What a shame. But if this incident helps get out the message about proper handling of a large bass, at least some good will come from it.

By the way, something else I've done when it is clear the fish is exhausted, especially in warm water, is to gently put it in the water and hold it by the front lip, then move the boat forward slowly. Seems to help reoxygenate them, after a bit they will take off. If fishing from shore, I'll move it back and forth until it leaves. Hate to see a big one floating!!!