Idealy I would catch and release every fish I land. But now my fishing partner is demanding that since we're in supposedly hard times, that we should take any good size bass home to eat, which I guess is fine. But I have since realized that I don't know how to humanely kill the fish before I fillet it.

12 gauge

Just fillet it.

If kept out of the water they should be brain dead by the time you get home.

A good whack between the eyes with a blunt object, like a heavy pair of pliers or a beer bottle, does the trick!

Keep the "keepers", throw back the big breeders!  

hard times? just wack it in the head!

Well, that's the argument I'm getting anyway. It's from the mind of a woman. I didn't stipulate that it was a particularly sensical argument.

this is for no reason...

:question OKAY I'M DONE!

While fourbizz has a good idea, I would suggest that you do not use his method while the fish is laying on the deck of your boat.  

hard times?

Btw, I noticed that you're a youth member. Maybe ask your parents how they might plan to feed you if they were to get laid off and still have to pay the mortgage.

While fourbizz has a good idea, I would suggest that you do not use his method while the fish is laying on the deck of your boat.

For better or worse, I fish strictly from the shore...in florida....the lilly-pads eat more senkos than the fish.

the brain is between the eyes and slightly back from them. A pellet gun or an ice pick takes care of it easily.

Do people really kill the fish before they fillet them? Usually mine are still trying to take breaths while they are in the off fall bucket. If you are worried about the fishes feelings how can you shove a hook through theyre mouth in the first place? Just fillet em they will die.

You could put them on ice...or go the 12 gauge route.

When we fish in Ontario for Walleyes and Pike, any fish that is kept must be killed immediately. They do this to eliminate people culling fish.

It has been this way for at least 10 years. We use little wooden fish wackers that my grandpa made back in the day. They are basically a wooden baseball bat, drilled out and filled with lead. One wack between the eyes is all it takes!

They also sell products like these but I'm sure you could make something that would work. A 12 inch piece of 2X2 would probably do the trick!

Cooler with ice.

I have one of those large wired fish baskets you can stick in the water..I use that for bluegills. Once I'm done i can just transport em' in the ice cooler home.

I'm gonna be keeping a few as well this year.  

Just a thought....

Release the bass, and set yourself up a catfishing rig.

Catch the catfish, bop it on the head with any heavy, blunt object,

fillet, and enjoy the GOOD tasting fish species...

just my .02

Just start filleting. They probably wont have much life in them by the time you get them home. I am all for fish conservation and releasing safley.But there nothin wrong with taking a few. Just stick your knife in a go to town, the fish wont scream.

Idealy I would catch and release every fish I land. But now my fishing partner is demanding that since we're in supposedly hard times, that we should take any good size bass home to eat, which I guess is fine. But I have since realized that I don't know how to humanely kill the fish before I fillet it.

What's your defination of a "good size bass" ? Please don't kill the hog's.

A 10 ga. is more "humane" than a 12 ga. If you are going to kill them, don't be a wimp, use something that will get the job done. ;D

Are we being "baited" here...

Put the larger ones back. Keep only the smallest legal. Knock it on the head with a billy. Put it it on ice. But...there are a lot tastier fish out there.

"Humane fish dispatch"....Isn't that a newspaper?

I just filet the bass or bluegill or pike what ever. Does that make me a badazz.

Sharp hatchet.

I just filet the bass or bluegill or pike what ever. Does that make me a badazz.

no

I didn't thinks so.