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Gas Bladder Deflation of Depressurized Largemouth Bass
Author(s) -
Lee Dennis P.
Publication year - 1992
Publication title -
north american journal of fisheries management
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.587
H-Index - 72
eISSN - 1548-8675
pISSN - 0275-5947
DOI - 10.1577/1548-8675(1992)012<0662:gbdodl>2.3.co;2
Subject(s) - micropterus , bass (fish) , fishery , rigor mortis , predation , swim bladder , biology , fish <actinopterygii> , anatomy , ecology
Rapid depressurization oflargemouth bass Micropterus salmoides caught from deep water can result in expansion of the gas bladder. Largemouth bass released in such condition are unable to submerge and are subject to injury and predation. I compared angler returns in three California reservoirs for three groups of largemouth bass caught by angling: 76 fish with expanded gas bladders that were deflated by puncturing prior to release, 49 that did not demonstrate any gas bladder expansion but were punctured prior to release, and 159 that did not demonstrate any gas bladder expansion and were not punctured. Returns did not differ between punctured and control groups, suggesting that deflation of largemouth bass with expanded gas bladders is not harmful and can improve survival of released fish. Largemouth bass Micropterus salmoides that have acclimated to deep water and that are caught there by anglers are subjected to depressurization as they are brought to the surface, My observations indicate that most largemouth bass can resubmerge if released immediately. However, if retained in a live well for later release, gas bladder distention makes it impossible for the fish to resubmerge, and the fish will be subject to injury and predation.