I have mixed feelings about dead fish penalties. First off we should do everything we can to keep fish alive. But really dont we all do that anyway? Dead fish lose weight so that should be reason enough to keep fish alive. Not that everyone wouldnt try to keep fish alive anyway. I think its an outdated rule. I have seen tournaments lost by guys on the dead fish penalties. I just hate to see someone lose because of something totally out of their control when they did everything they could to prevent it. Our club has a small 4oz per fish penalty which is the right amount if you have to have one. Most of the time its out of a persons control if the fish dies most people I have seen do everything they can to keep fish alive.

I think its an outdated rule.

I agree.  Our club has a deduction for dead fish as well.  I think its lip service for all the fish huggers.  Don't get me wrong, I am 99% C&R for bass, but I think this rule is for show, and serves no actual purpose.  As for fizzing fish, please do not start sticking needles into a fish's gut unless you are truly seeing symptoms of baro trauma.  This generally only happens in depths greater than 30' and when fish are not allowed to return to the depths after being caught, i.e. in the livewell for a TX.  There are many theories and documents on the web that show how to fizz.  Personally, I've had success fizzing from the side, not the the mouth.

I don't know if this is a good video of it or not but something I found on youtube.