??? Releasing fish this time of year???

[dstreet]

Have noticed that alot of the fish I return to the water seem to flop around on the top of the water for a quite some time, and even the larger ones in the livewell seem to be in shock,
Im not really wanting to do the Needle and deflate the blatter every time I return a fish, so my ? is should I just clean the small ones as well, or will these fish recover?

[DrNip]

I didn't think you were catching them in that deep of water that you need to deflate the bladder but it sounds like this is what is going on. I can't say for sure they will recover if this is what is needed.

[dstreet]

most of the fish if have caught for the last month have come from 20 to 33 fow, not sure what others consider deep?

[Redge]

If they are floating on top, push them down with your rod tip to about 3' deep and they will take off! Learned the trick from WSD!

[DrNip]

Oh I thought you were fishing 15-18'.

Good to know Redge!

[cricket george]

If the fish are coming from approx. 30 fow then the fish have compressed air in their bladder equal to two (2) atmospheres, which upon coming to the surface, will expand causing the subject problem. I would suggest harvesting the fish and not waste the resource. You can always plant them in your garden this Spring for fertilizer.

[buzzmanmo]

try bringing them up slow

[fishn_a_ledge]

when you release them, make them hit the water nose first. I do not know what this does, but you will not have another one float. they will swim right away. Maybe it is shoving them to that 3' mark Redge was talking about.

[dstreet]

when you release them, make them hit the water nose first. I do not know what this does, but you will not have another one float. they will swim right away. Maybe it is shoving them to that 3' mark Redge was talking about.

I will try that, thanks everyone!

[Frank300]

Have noticed that alot of the fish I return to the water seem to flop around on the top of the water for a quite some time, and even the larger ones in the livewell seem to be in shock,
Im not really wanting to do the Needle and deflate the blatter every time I return a fish, so my ? is should I just clean the small ones as well, or will these fish recover?

Due to air bladder expansion, The Texas Dept Of Wildlife requires on most lakes in Texas you keep what you catch from Dec 1 to March 1, even lakes with length limits. They determined the mortality from bringing them up from the deep is too high.