The Value of Big Bass

[Oldschool]

This is the time of year that I get on my soap box and dicuss the value of big bass. This year is diffierent for a few reasons; the upcoming Big Bass tournament at lake Casitas and the general interest on big bass has created a lot of excitement.
For years big bass were a west coast phenominium. Today Texas and Florida on occasion have limits of big bass coming to the tournament scales. California is still the home of the giants, bass over 15 lbs.
With the swimbait becomming more excepted nationally, the tackle industry selling big bass specialty rods, reels and lures, the value of big bass is higher today than ever.
This pre-spawn and spawn periods will have more pressure put on these very valuable bass then in years past. In the past we had a million dollar bounty on the next world record bass and the pressure nearly decimated the big bass population by both bait and bed fisherman. I see a very similar pressure building this upcoming season due to both recreational and tournament fisherman targeting the big bass population, with effective lures.
It maybe time for tournament directors to have a C & R boat on the water to pick up big bass when the angler calls for one. The greatest threat to a big bass is staying in a live that doesn't have enough room or the correct DO and water temperature controls, or being the personal best bass for most fisherman. If we could somehow eliminate live bait fishing during the first 3 months of the year, that would also help reduce pressure on the big bass population.
I will be out there targeting thses special bass along with everyone else. Haven't used live bait for LMB or targeting a bed fish since 1971 and hope others will do the same.
Tom

[Ron T.]

Like the idea on having a big fish picked up during a touney .I had a 12 pounder die on me a few years back in a night event . To make matters worse that fish only paid about 300.00 . Could have been 1000.00 and I still would have let go had I known she would die . Would be nice to see big fish picked up and put in a pin until weigh in .

[Oldschool]

Other than pre spawn, spawn and night fishing, few bass over 10 lbs are caught during a tournament. Howver the delta and Clear fisherman may argue they always catch heavy limits that include 10 to 12 lb bass.
With all the crazy's out there it makes for good PR to have a C&R boat on the water during tournament where big bass are common.
Ron, sometimes there isn't anything you can do to save a stressed bass, they just roll over. A percentage (25%+) of big bass will die as result of being caught due to the excessive handling they recieve as someones personal best.
I was waiting for one of the TD's to respond, guess not.
Tom

[Ray L.]

I will pespond
I am a T.D.
Here is your release boat on the water