Because the swim bladder is slower to respond, the bass is able to quickly return to the bottom because the bladder remains compressed. likewise, a bass feeding on shad at the surface can elect to dive deep, yet is able to quickly return to the surface with the assistance of the buoyancy of its expanded swim bladder. Bass cannot decide to regulate the volume of gas in the bladder; atmospheric pressure does that job. When a deep bass is hooked and brought to the surface, the swim bladder reacts to the lower atmospheric pressure and expands beyond the ability of the bass to achieve neutral buoyancy. this is when barotraumas occurs, and can be recognized when you look in your livewell and see your bass doing the backstroke. the expanded swim bladder (on the lower half of the bass) floats like a balloon, forcing the bass onto its back. the extent of swelling exceeds normal size, and with time damages surrounding organs and tissues, and prevents the bass from creating water flow over its gills, depriving it of oxygen.
Stress damage. Bass thrive when they experience consistent environmental conditions. any change to these conditions, natural or unnatural,
has some effect on their life potential. Stress is unavoidable in the angling process, just as it is unavoidable due to constantly changing natural conditions. our job as tournament anglers is to recognize the causes of stress, and minimize stress throughout the tournament process. Stress makes a bass more susceptible to disease, and is often the biggest contributor to delayed mortality (death after catch and release). Stress occurs during the fight, and continues during the handling process.
Lack of Oxygen. Bass rely upon the flow of oxygenated water across their gills. The delicate, blood engorged gills effectively pull oxygen out of the water and infuses it into the blood stream where it is carried to vital organs. While nature provides bass the ability to survive with its gills out of water for short periods of time, the longer they are out the more at risk survival becomes.
Rapid change in body temperature. Bass are cold-blooded animals, so their body temperature gradually changes along with the water temperature in their environment. Sudden temperature changes (either higher or lower) affect the ability of organs to work efficiently.
You are more likely to remember how to prevent these injuries by describing how injury occurs during our contact with bass. each time we come in contact with bass during the tournament day should be examined, and actions predetermined to reduce injury.
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