San Diego & SoCal Fishing Forums

Hey all, Haven’t had much to report lately, since returning to work after my shoulder replacement. Been out to El Cap a few times with not much but little guys to report. Was out there today and the SD Bass Council was holding their Top 6 tournament.

I fished this tournament a lot back when I was fishing in a club so I know that the guys who fish this tournament know what they are doing. Today as I was pulling out, one of the boats in the tournament came back down to the ramp to release their fish. I proceeded to watch this guy toss five solid bass back into the water, only for them all to go belly up because they weren’t fizzed. These were all 3 - 3 1/2lb fish that were alive and could have been saved. Unfortunately I couldn’t find my needle to deflate them so I had to watch these fish struggle, trying to survive.

It pissed me off to no end that someone who clearly is a tournament fisherman would treat those fish so badly! It also makes tournament fishermen look really bad. There were a few guys fishing the area who clearly were not tournament fishermen but what they saw was someone just throw 5 bass back into the lake to die!

If you tournament fish, whether at the club level or on some of the local circuits, you need to understand that people already don’t like tournament guys. There is already the stereotype out there that bass fishermen in general are assholes, all these guys did today was back that stereotype up. I don’t know if it was done out of laziness, or lack of preparedness, or what but we have to do better than what I saw today.

Sorry for the rant but that literally ruined my day today seeing that.

I must agree with you on this subject because I too was out at El Cap today and Im still wobbly. I also caught a bunch of tiny bass Had I had known there was a tournament I would have gone elsewhere. I didnt see the fish they killed but i did see two tourny boats ride up within 10 feet of my pontoon at different times. I ask one and you know who you are if the wanted to sit in my lap on the pontoon to fish. Why i am still wobbly is the wakes this guys throw off coming and going is something else. They could capsize a unsuspecting kayak or float tube. I personally dont think bass fisherman are assholes but some of the tourney guys would look right at home in that stereotype of being classless self indulgent asses that care for nothing but themselves. And I'm not sorry for my rant.

This sucks! If any one here happens to see an unfizzed bass, you can bend out a hook and pinch the bath and fizz fish too! I’ve done it a few times when I haven’t had my fizzier.

I’m one of those guys that don’t like tournaments or tournament fisherman. Sorry. Well, not sorry… I’ve only ever done ones at night, not for the tournament aspect, just to be able to fish a normally closed at night lake in a boat. The stereotype seems to fit 90%.

If you wanna see that stereotype on steroids, fish billfish tournaments. Might be one humble guy out of 100

So the tournament didn't have someone on site to fizz bass released in the tournament? That violates the conditions of their permit. Do you have photos or video of this incident? I can rectify this problem real quick...

All the guys fishing that tourney should know how to fizz...they just didn't care. They knew the fish needed it when they were all upside down in the livewell...

Obviously all you bleeding hearts were so busy crying over the couple floaters and trying to save them, you missed the fact there was a DFW agent on site long before the teams ever made it back to the dock. Ethics and morals aside, I have to say it’s sort of ironic that we’ve recently been discussing that culling of bass needs to increase exponentially if we want the fisheries to return to the way things used to be. Had you found out a few of those guys kept some fish to eat would you be upset? What if they took the floater home to fertilize their garden? To say all guys who fish tournaments, or even 90% are dikks is absurd. Sure some guys feel entitled. Fire a jig at his outboard next time he crowds you. Dont just whine or leave. Those guys are bringing in far more money to the city and the local fishing community/economy than any casual angler on this site, that’s for sure. I don’t see anyone wearing an sdfish jerseys with their FRIENDS OF THE LAKES sponsorship representing every week, bring awareness to the cause…

Touché

StinkyPinky23 wrote: Fri Sep 27, 2024 6:20 am Obviously all you bleeding hearts were so busy crying over the couple floaters and trying to save them, you missed the fact there was a DFW agent on site long before the teams ever made it back to the dock. Ethics and morals aside, I have to say it’s sort of ironic that we’ve recently been discussing that culling of bass needs to increase exponentially if we want the fisheries to return to the way things used to be. Had you found out a few of those guys kept some fish to eat would you be upset? What if they took the floater home to fertilize their garden? To say all guys who fish tournaments, or even 90% are dikks is absurd. Sure some guys feel entitled. Fire a jig at his outboard next time he crowds you. Dont just whine or leave. Those guys are bringing in far more money to the city and the local fishing community/economy than any casual angler on this site, that’s for sure. I don’t see anyone wearing an sdfish jerseys with their FRIENDS OF THE LAKES sponsorship representing every week, bring awareness to the cause…

Absolutely all valid points. It’s just a bad look and perceptions become reality. Tight lines to all this weekend!

StinkyPinky23 wrote: Fri Sep 27, 2024 6:20 am Obviously all you bleeding hearts were so busy crying over the couple floaters and trying to save them, you missed the fact there was a DFW agent on site long before the teams ever made it back to the dock. Ethics and morals aside, I have to say it’s sort of ironic that we’ve recently been discussing that culling of bass needs to increase exponentially if we want the fisheries to return to the way things used to be. Had you found out a few of those guys kept some fish to eat would you be upset? What if they took the floater home to fertilize their garden? To say all guys who fish tournaments, or even 90% are dikks is absurd. Sure some guys feel entitled. Fire a jig at his outboard next time he crowds you. Dont just whine or leave. Those guys are bringing in far more money to the city and the local fishing community/economy than any casual angler on this site, that’s for sure. I don’t see anyone wearing an sdfish jerseys with their FRIENDS OF THE LAKES sponsorship representing every week, bring awareness to the cause…

CDFW Code stipulates "all bass caught shall be released alive and in good condition" amongst all of the other conditions on their permit including fish care procedures. All tournaments agree to abide by these conditions of their permit in order to maintain/obtain them. Bottom line is if you are fishing in a bass tournament, the law says everything must be done to maximize the fish's survival. Laziness/indifference/defiance/non-compliance in regard to the conditions is unacceptable. If they don't play by the rules, they don't get to play. I have already told two bass clubs that left bass in the release tank at DVL (live, dead and floating) after a night tournament that they will not be issued night tournament permits next year due to their respective violations.

I didn’t fish this tournament and haven’t fished anything but the night series for a while, so I’m not on any “side”. My son fishes the Jr’s and volunteered to help with the weigh ins and raffle so I happened to be there early. I honestly don’t see why whoever had ‘em wouldn’t just keep a fish that don’t look to be able to make it. I just think for the most part, tournament guys are good people. As ssaid above, a few bad apples…

. Had you found out a few of those guys kept some fish to eat would you be upset?

Absolutely not. I have never had a problem with someone keeping bass to eat. No issue at all there. My issue was that these bass were essentially going to waste. I would much rather see those bass taken home and eaten then left to die a slow death because someone didn’t fizz them. If you are fishing tournament (which I did for almost 20yrs) it’s your responsibility to know how to keep the fish alive after release.

Nice to see a Moose post !

Damned if you do, Damned if you don't.

There are a lot of studies that cover this topic. I still fizz because it makes me feel better. Lowering them back down with a weight is the better method.

Defiantly need to treat these animals with more respect than that!

Thanks for the post!

https://www.wired2fish.com/fish-biology ... -than-good

https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Yv ... us-spp.pdf

I guess that’s my main pet peeve here. We use these fish for recreation and, in this case, the pursuit of money. The least we can do is treat them as well as we possibly can. Basically, respect the resource!

I think all of us that enjoy bass fishing, hope to pass it along to our children. This was not a good example to pass along to the next generation. I don’t mean to act all holier than thou, I’ve done some questionable handling of bass in the past. I just don’t want to see the resource wasted when it would have been easy to save those bass.

Key word WASTE

StinkyPinky23 wrote: Fri Sep 27, 2024 6:20 am Obviously all you bleeding hearts were so busy crying over the couple floaters and trying to save them, you missed the fact there was a DFW agent on site long before the teams ever made it back to the dock. Ethics and morals aside, I have to say it’s sort of ironic that we’ve recently been discussing that culling of bass needs to increase exponentially if we want the fisheries to return to the way things used to be. Had you found out a few of those guys kept some fish to eat would you be upset? What if they took the floater home to fertilize their garden? To say all guys who fish tournaments, or even 90% are dikks is absurd. Sure some guys feel entitled. Fire a jig at his outboard next time he crowds you. Dont just whine or leave. Those guys are bringing in far more money to the city and the local fishing community/economy than any casual angler on this site, that’s for sure. I don’t see anyone wearing an sdfish jerseys with their FRIENDS OF THE LAKES sponsorship representing every week, bring awareness to the cause…

Judging by this guys users name I personally think he fits the " jerk" part to a tee. Not many people dump fish back in the water they intend to eat or use as fertilizer

Quick question if I get a SD fish jacket and more decals am I then allowed to be careless in my handling of fish, because then I appear to do more for my community?

SjW wrote: Mon Oct 07, 2024 4:58 pm

Judging by this guys users name I personally think he fits the " jerk" part to a tee. Not many people dump fish back in the water they intend to eat or use as fertilizer
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Judging by your one post, you’re a moron. Reading comprehension clearly isn’t your forte, because this last sentence isn’t anything that I said. Also, without an internet search, you wouldn’t guess the origin of my username with 20 guesses, no matter where your simple
Mind goes. You can do anything you want with fish you might happen to catch. I couldn’t care less. Take those rats home and eat ‘em, or throw ‘em on the bank. I won’t cry I promise

But you are, I PROMISE!!!!!!