TexasKayakFisherman.com

While river fishing on Saturday I was lucky enough to catch a 6 pound largemouth. It was a great fish,especially for the small water that we were fishing. It also put up a remarkable fight, longer and stronger than fish that were longer and heavier.

I was worried that he had swallowed the senko that I was using because I couldn't see it during the fight. Luckily though, it was just balled up in her mouth and she was neither throat or gill hooked. I removed the hook and held her I the water for a few seconds while my buddy got his phone out. Snapped two pics and put her back in. She immediately turned on her side. I tried to revive her to no avail. I even quit fishing and just held her gently by the bottom lip as I one handed paddled the canoe while my buddy and son fished for about 15 more minutes. Nothing, no movement, no gill action, nothing.

I haven't kept a bass in many years, but as the color left her, I knew she wasn't gonna make it and would either feed the crawdads, coons, or me so I put here in the cooler with our drinks.

I've never had a fish die for no reason like that. Maybe she was just really old and that spectacular fight was just all she had left. Anybody ever seen anything like that?

Dont feel bad. You tried and it didn't work out. Enjoy the meal and keep practicing catch and release when you feel like it. Nothing wrong with keeping fish just practice cpr when feasible. Pics of the fallen beast.

I'm not against keeping them especially in places that need it for management. We used to eat bass weekly from our farm ponds and never put a dent in the population, just helped grow bigger fish. I just know that it'll be a decade before this small section of river gets another bass like this one. At least she already spawned. That's some consolation. Her belly was flabby like someone that just got badly needed gastric bypass. Different than most river bass, though, you could see she was well fed.

In-Fisherman used to have a saying "Selective Harvest" that what you where forced to do when the ole gal time came. Unless your dropping 6+ pounders in the fryer on a weekly bases your fine.

Ah, man you did what you could. It happens. Grill that baby up and let it be.

Nope. I've never had a 6lb bass, caught on a lure, expire upon release, but then I've never caught a 6lb river bass either. I believe fishing with single hook lures is a great catch and release conservation technique. Using a landing net on bigger fish can help avoid fighting them till they are exhausted..

Think about it this way . . you *could* keep 5 every time you go out. It sounds like you go out a lot and don't do that so you're way in the clear on this one. I can't recall any fish ever dying on me exactly like you describe but I'm pretty sure a few have swum off and died somewhere. You do your best but it will happen.

Thanks everyone. I felt a lot better about it after taking it down to my moms and asking her to stuff it and bake it the way she did when I was a kid. I haven't eaten bass that way in 20+ Years and, boy, was it good.

I haven't used a landing net for freshwater fishing in years but this time, it may have helped as you say. I missed lipping it on 3 tries, each adding a minute or so to the fight. I really think this old girl just gave one last hard fight and then gave up.

After reading this story I had to look this up from a few years ago.

http://www.texaskayakfisherman.com/foru ... k#p1172271" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Originally on the SM/NB, not sure how to copy it here.

I honestly wouldn't sweat it. Nothing wrong with eating a delicious bass. I'm pretty sure this wouldn't have killed it that quickly, but holding the fish horizontally and in 2 hands is much safer. It puts alot of stress on the jaw when you hold them vertically and with one hand. Just a thought. Great looking fish.

I've had the same thing happen before for no apparent reason. Don't feel bad, as long as she didn't go to waste. Black bass ceviche ain't bad.

I know how you felt. When your plan is to catch and release the idea is to have a successful day of fishing without killing anything.

Two years ago I was on a bucket list trip to Montana. On the last day, fishing was slow, for me, my daughter was doing just fine. I finally hooked and landed a nice Cutthroat. When the guide netted it he said there was a lot of blood. We think my leader must have gotten under a gill plate and sliced the gills. We couldn't revive the fish. As it floated off (catch & release only on Cutts) I felt terrible. It helped some when the guide pointed out that the eagle we had just passed would make sure that fish wasn't wasted.

Don't feel bad man. Just think abt all the past and future cprs. It happens. One thing to look into tho. I've seen people post pics saying not to hold fish big the mouth with their bodyweight hanging down unsupported. Something abt it stretching their organs or something. And that you should hold them upright with a another hand supporting the middle/rear of the fish. I know u said you just held it for a few secs for the pics But maybe something to look into. Either way...don't feel bad. You know whether or not you are a true conservationist at heart. And that's all that matters