Tournament Fish Care

Was fishing Cave Run saturday and it had three tournaments going on. Two out of Clay Lick(60-70 boats combined) and one out of Alfrey(10-12 boats). I pulled up to bank at Clay Lick during weigh in and did not see one fish floating. Not to say no dead fish were weighed in but didnt see any. I watched guys bring their fish over to release back and most guys had bags full of water when releasing fish. I then went to Alfrey to see what they weighed in. They had finished the weigh-in and a younger guy was walking down ramp with at least 10 under slot fish and three or four over the slot(IN ONE BAG). He had next to no water in the bag and then dumps them right at the ramp. Everyone that used ramp the rest of the day had to look at 7-8 dead small fish,one large fish dead and one large fish swiming at surface. I worked with the fish that was still swimming but i dont think it made it. I am not bashing tournaments or using names to throw anybody under the bus. I love fishing tournaments, but we plan on keeping tournament fishing around we have to take better care of our fish. With that many fish in one bag, even if the bag would have been full of water, they still would have been some of them die. This tournament club only comes to cave run one or two times a year, you know who you are. Water was only 70-72 degrees no reason for that many dead fish! Please work on your fish care.
Crankinstein

I agree, you work so hard prior to weigh in to keep your fish alive. Why not save your water and gingerly put the fish back into the water. I know that the local tournaments I fish do a very good job of keeping fish alive and I can't remember the last time a dead fish was dumped on the ramp.

Every time I fish out of the state ramp at Rough, I see the same thing. I don't understand it. Having 4 and 5 lbers die at each tournament is a waste...

With the advances in fish care and the boat livewell systems we have available to us today there is no reason that there should be a lot of fish morality. exceptions being deep hooked. tounge hook or other circumstances beyond our control.