fish weight loss

garry_3000 · 07-11-06, 11:17 AM

Now I have been fishing bass tournys for two years as a non-boater and my boater partners say that the fish loose about three to six ounces in the livewell and also could shrink? I think this is b.s. but what do i know. Your thoughts?

betursweetbass · 07-11-06, 12:10 PM

I have no experience with livewells or tourney's, but I'll sumise that it is possible for a bass to change its overall appearance, according to its attitude and environment. In the open water, I believe a bass would have the ability to "flair up" "puff out" however you want to call it, in the manner as alot of animals do when guarding their territory or defending themselves.
After being caught and placed inside a live well, their attitude may cause them to "mentally shrink" along with their physical appearance as well????
I wouldn't bet any money on it, but it could happen.....

bassnman30 · 07-11-06, 02:50 PM

Ok lets see. Measure the fish as soon as you catch him. Then measure the fish just prior to weigh-in.
That should tell ya.
By adding rejuvenate to your live well the fish may actually gain strength and possibly length as well.

zooker · 07-11-06, 07:04 PM

i think the fish tense up from hook set to live well. i have done as bassnman said they relax in the live well and gain about 1/4"

zooker

JB · 07-11-06, 07:11 PM

like bassman and zooker stated, measure before and after and see for yourself..
I can tell you I was tournament director for years for our club, and weighed and measured my fish before and after...once the water gets really warm in the summer, fish shrink about 1/16th, 1/8th of a inch, and maybe a few ounces of wieght, esp if they hav puked up something while in the livewell...
A word to the wise, if you are in a tourney with a 12 inch minimum, and end up catching a 12 incher first thing in the morning on a hot day, by weigh in time many have shrunk down to 11 and 15/16th or 11 7/8...
always check length before going to the scales.

Futurepro22 · 07-11-06, 08:36 PM

i have had fish shrink and lose weight more than one time.. so its not b/s.... i even used Please Release Me... kinda like rejuvenade..

ILfishinman · 07-12-06, 05:05 AM

well unless the puked something up or went to the bathroom in the live well they will stay the same weight. because they dont lose mass. they may shrink in size but not weight. i think zooker hit it with the tensing up

Hef · 07-12-06, 08:16 AM

I have had a couple "throw up" crawfish and a baby squirrel before. That took away a few ounces at the scale.

bassintom · 07-12-06, 02:57 PM

i have found if you put a 12" bass in the livewell in the morning.usually by weigh-in time,that fish has shrunk at least 1/8".i always measure those guys before i take them to the scales.i have had to throw back more than i care to remember because of "shrinkage".
ask george costanza about "shrinkage"...lmao

07-11-06, 11:17 AM	#1
garry_3000 BassFishin.Com Active Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: indianapolis, in Posts: 267	fish weight loss Now I have been fishing bass tournys for two years as a non-boater and my boater partners say that the fish loose about three to six ounces in the livewell and also could shrink? I think this is b.s. but what do i know. Your thoughts?

07-11-06, 02:50 PM	#3
bassnman30 BassFishin.Com Super Veteran Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Lexington,NC-Worlds best BBQ. Posts: 1,945	Ok lets see. Measure the fish as soon as you catch him. Then measure the fish just prior to weigh-in. That should tell ya. By adding rejuvenate to your live well the fish may actually gain strength and possibly length as well. __________________ Lexington,NC.

07-11-06, 07:04 PM	#4
zooker BassFishin.Com Premier Elite Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: denton nc Posts: 13,441	i think the fish tense up from hook set to live well. i have done as bassnman said they relax in the live well and gain about 1/4" zooker __________________ the godfather.. aml in remission since 7-20-09

07-11-06, 08:36 PM	#6
Futurepro22 BassFishin.Com Active Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: ebensburg,Pa Posts: 208	i have had fish shrink and lose weight more than one time.. so its not b/s.... i even used Please Release Me... kinda like rejuvenade.. __________________ derrickhughes.net

07-12-06, 08:16 AM	#8
Hef BassFishin.Com Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Pasadena, MD Posts: 565	I have had a couple "throw up" crawfish and a baby squirrel before. That took away a few ounces at the scale. __________________ U.S. Navy "The object of war is not to die for your country, but to make the other bastard die for his" - Gen Patton

07-11-06, 12:10 PM	#2
betursweetbass BassFishin.Com Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 646	I have no experience with livewells or tourney's, but I'll sumise that it is possible for a bass to change its overall appearance, according to its attitude and environment. In the open water, I believe a bass would have the ability to "flair up" "puff out" however you want to call it, in the manner as alot of animals do when guarding their territory or defending themselves. After being caught and placed inside a live well, their attitude may cause them to "mentally shrink" along with their physical appearance as well???? I wouldn't bet any money on it, but it could happen.....

07-11-06, 07:11 PM	#5
JB BassFishin.Com Premier Elite Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 8,655	like bassman and zooker stated, measure before and after and see for yourself.. I can tell you I was tournament director for years for our club, and weighed and measured my fish before and after...once the water gets really warm in the summer, fish shrink about 1/16th, 1/8th of a inch, and maybe a few ounces of wieght, esp if they hav puked up something while in the livewell... A word to the wise, if you are in a tourney with a 12 inch minimum, and end up catching a 12 incher first thing in the morning on a hot day, by weigh in time many have shrunk down to 11 and 15/16th or 11 7/8... always check length before going to the scales.

07-12-06, 05:05 AM	#7
ILfishinman BassFishin.Com Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Champaign, Illinois Posts: 706	well unless the puked something up or went to the bathroom in the live well they will stay the same weight. because they dont lose mass. they may shrink in size but not weight. i think zooker hit it with the tensing up

07-12-06, 02:57 PM	#9
bassintom BassFishin.Com Super Veteran Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: washington(northwest) N.J. Posts: 3,958	i have found if you put a 12" bass in the livewell in the morning.usually by weigh-in time,that fish has shrunk at least 1/8".i always measure those guys before i take them to the scales.i have had to throw back more than i care to remember because of "shrinkage". ask george costanza about "shrinkage"...lmao __________________ A man's gotta believe in something...I believe I'll go fishing.

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