I find myself when shoreline fishing, taking more time than I want to (or should) to record my catch. One of the places I fish a lot has a slight slope. I am fishing by myself so I try to measure and photo quickly, but takes longer than I would like.

How much time on land is too much for the bass? Am I being selfish in trying to get a good photo and weight? I surely want to be able to get him back in the water and have the chance again down the road to catch him or allow the same for anyone else.

Let me know your routines.

I fish from a kayak and I employ one of those plastic fish grips on a 4' length of paracord. I lip the bass but keep her in the water and unhook right there if possible. I clip the fish grip on her and then let her swim on the paracord. While she swims I get my camera and  "hawg trough" ready to go. A quick lift onto the trough, snap my picture and then back in the drink for her.

 

 

If you are fishing from shore you could probably use a fish grip to tether the bass in the water while you get a camera or a scale ready to go.

If I was bank fishing, I land them, unhook them and release them. I never weigh fish. If I want to get a length measurement, I'll hold them along side the rod, mark the length, let them go and measure the spot on the rod with a tape later. No selfie photos when I'm walking the bank or wading. If I'm in my personal pontoon, I'll hold them in the water in a net until I can get my camera ready for a selfie. I'll only take a picture if the fish is 18 inches or better.

 

How much time on land is too much for the bass?

 

Easy rule of thumb...as long as you can hold your own breath.

Easy rule of thumb...as long as you can hold your own breath.

You beat me to it.

I always opt for "as little as possible"

 

If you'd like, I'll gladly hold anyone's head under water to demonstrate why.

I bank fish a lot, and I carry everything I need to document a fish. First and foremost for me are 2 things. Minimize the time the fish is out of the water, and prevent as best I can that the fish is not exposed to ground contact. I carry a fish grip, scale, and ruler and smart phone. I pretty much have it down to about a minute, where a nice fish is measured, weighed if there 6lb plus, and pic taken. Return the fish to the water, pick up my stuff and continue fishing. Here's an example. Note: The fish does not touch the ground when its placed on a bps ruler. Lastly... lol that's not a 6lb fish. 

 

 

 

Air and water temps matter a lot. Warm temps should constitute an "asap" like 30 seconds.

Cold temps are way more forgiving for time out of the water and for good recovery  chances.

 

 

C22

Why measure every bass you catch? Set a standard for yourself and estimate anything under that length or weight. A simple rule is to use your rod butt to what ever length you establish on the rod blank as a measurement tool. You always cut a piece of your the length and girth of a big bass, put the line in your pocket and measure it later.

1 minute or how lng you can hold your breath as mentioned is safe time out of water.

Tom

Catch, let the go pro snap the pic, weigh em, and back in the water. 30-45 seconds max....If they are big or the camera isn't ready then fish grips are used while they stay in the water.

My routine is simple and much like others who posted theirs. I keep everything on my person I may need. I always have hookouts, and if it is an instance where I can't remove the hook or hooks quickly and easily by hand, they can. When I get the fish close enough I grab it or net it, remove the hook, snap a pic or two and back it goes. It is a bang bang process and I almost always fast draw mcgraw it. 

 

If you stay prepared and have a routine, each fish you catch you can work on making the whole process smoother and easier. If you do that then in no time you'll have it down so you can do what you gotta do and still have that fish back in the water so fast that it doesn't know what hit it. 

If I was bank fishing, I land them, unhook them and release them. I never weigh fish. If I want to get a length measurement, I'll hold them along side the rod, mark the length, let them go and measure the spot on the rod with a tape later. No selfie photos when I'm walking the bank or wading. If I'm in my personal pontoon, I'll hold them in the water in a net until I can get my camera ready for a selfie. I'll only take a picture if the fish is 18 inches or better.

Why measure every bass you catch? Set a standard for yourself and estimate anything under that length or weight. A simple rule is to use your rod butt to what ever length you establish on the rod blank as a measurement tool.

I only bank fish and never weigh either. I also only measure if I think they are 15-18 inches or over. When I measure its quick pic next to rod and I measure spot on rod when I get home. In the pic I also mark sure end of lip is next to something noticeable on rod like a letter, color, emblem, word etc...

I never have lost a fish yet,

Like others have mentioned, it's best to have a routine down and have everything at hand to make the process go as smooth and as quick as possible. Setting some size guidelines as some have suggested is also a good idea. That said, bass aren't trout and can survive a lot longer than many would think in most cases.

 

-T9

I like the rule, as long as you can hold your breath but that doesn't mean drag the fish up the sloped shoreline, pin it to the ground to get the hook out and release it. Handle it with care and maybe only start measuring fish if they're "big" to you.

I don't do selfies with dinks

Better yet, dont take them out of the water. On the rare occasion I measure a fish, it is done completely in the water. Photos are also now done in the water. I never weight fish. Most of the time, there's is no need to take them out of the water for any time at all. I never understood why some people weigh and measure everything they catch, but to each their own.

After I get the hook out, take a pic, and weigh the fish it goes back in the water.  Everything is right where I can get at it quickly without having to search for it.  Fish is out of the water maybe 30 to 45 seconds.

I usually catch it take a few pics weigh it and run around the whole lake showing everybody look what i caught! Haha jk

I don't do selfies with dinks

 

i'd have no fish pics.......  

Air and water temps matter a lot. Warm temps should constitute an "asap" like 30 seconds.

Cold temps are way more forgiving for time out of the water and for good recovery  chances.

 

 

C22

I have found that nearly all the bass I have photos of that came out of cold water have their dorsal fin up

I'm just glad you're thinking about it, Joey B.  Thanks.