IMO, larger livewells in boats will help tremendously. I don't have your typical "Bass" Boat for I have a Tracker Deep V 17 that is really made for Walleye or Striper fishing but I Bass fish more than anything. The front livewell is 54" long. I have been in several "Bass" boats, Ranger, Triton, Champion etc and wonder why can't the back livewell in these boats stretch from one side to the other. Yes, some storage room will have to be given up but what is more important storage or the fish. Mine has a divider that easiliy allows me to keep one limit on one side and another limit on the other in case I have a partner in the boat the fish can be seperated. My thoughts is giving the fish room to swim a bit should help them after being caught to release some stress plus with so much water, there will be more room for error on the O2 situation. I have caught 2 different 6 lb smallies that I had in the livewell (seperate times) and considered keeping them for over an hour to mount, until I came to my senses. One was last December when the water was cooler so really no good test, but the other was at Cumberland in June, 75 degree water, and she swam away, jumped out of my hands, after releasing her. She had no problems at all and was in very good health even after over an hour in my livewell with that water temp and no additives to the water. Again, room to rome in the livewell, I think helps.

Tight Lines