Help Reduce Mortality while Handling Fish

Type: Nontidal
Region: Western
Location: Piney Rervoir, Grantsville

Found this 24 inch 8 1/2 pound giant floating at one of my favorite spots on Piney Reservoir in Grantsville, MD, could have been many causes of death but the State of Maryland needs to be doing a little something more to inform anglers on handling and releasing trophy sized fish. This death could have been caused by angler error and it can be prevented... Please post the picture below to spread some awareness to the angler that wants to watch that fish of a lifetime swim away�

DNR Response: Thanks Mr. Crowell for the report. As you mentioned, there could have been many causes of death. We find that one of the most common causes of death is hooking injury, such as a deep gut hook. Handling stress also causes a problem for the fish. One common stressor that kills the fish is suffocation when fish are held in a containment unit that has deoxygenated and stagnant water.

To help reduce handling stress on the fish, we are making a conscious effort to provide pictures of anglers who are handling the fish the way you are. As you know, supporting the full weight of the fish with two hands is not something that most anglers do when they take a picture. The Conservation Director of Maryland Bass Nation, Scott Sewell, has made impassioned pleas for anglers to pay attention to how they support the fish's body at public meetings for at least 2 years. In our 2014 fishing guide (Basic Catch & Release Fish Handling Tips), our second tip is when handling fish, use wet hands and hold fish by lip with one hand and support its body with the other hand. Illustrating good handling techniques and providing tips may not solve the problem and I'm hopeful that anglers such as yourself will continue to spread the word.

Thanks for your email and for helping to keep black bass alive!