Why CPR Is The Right Choice For Bass Tournaments

There are certain accomplishments that all bass fisherman desire, dream of, or fantasize about.  One is catching a record breaking bass.  The other is winning a tournament of note: think Bassmaster Classic.  Even those who don’t fish competitively hold the desire to prove their fishing worth.  To validate their fishing skill.  That, at core, is what drives us all as competitive anglers.  The imagery of hoisting large fish before an awed crowd is what we all associate with angling greatness.   We look upon those few, great anglers as a young ball player looks at the World Series MVP holding the MVP plaque above their head.  For decades this imagery has been the pinnacle of our sport.  A driving force that propelled an old man’s hobby into a multi-national, multi-billion dollar industry.  Our sport could not be where it is today without this imagery.  Hoisting those bass, however, may be leading our sport in the wrong direction.  I recently stumbled across the aftermath of a small tournament’s weigh in that left the entire stringer floating bloated, lifeless in Coosa River grass.   

Poking around any Southern, Summertime marina will usually turn up the floating remains of some angler who "fished The Classic."  Mortality during summertime is often difficult to prevent; even for those with the most sophisticated live well systems.  So, why then must we insist on dragging a tank full of stressed fish around for nine hours?  A key issue rests upon the difference in measurement.  Live weigh-in’s require just that; live-weight.  Catch Photo Release tournaments, however, require only evidence of the fish’s length.  This can be attained with a quick photo of the fish resting upon a measuring device.  After which, the fish is returned to the water with no more stress than is caused by the process of the catch itself.  Herein lies the issue; what makes weight a superior enough measurement that mortality is an acceptable byproduct?  Does live weight give a more accurate measure of angling skill?  Or, is it the act of the live weigh-in itself that we are seeking?  The answer matters not, because I feel that tournament mortality is an inexcusable waste.  The purposeful harvesting of fish is another matter in itself.  I am talking about the negligent waste caused by tournament mortality.  CPR offers all the benefits of a live weigh-in, plus the additional benefit of mortality reduction.  The first benefit is, of course, the reduction of fish mortality.  CPR is a fast process that allows the angler to accurately measure, document the fish and return it quickly to the water.  No system shock.  No oxygen deprivation.  No hauling around in the rusty well of john boat.  CPR allows for all the glory of a weigh in.  The angler can take as many photos as needed to capture the perfect angle, aspect, ratio and coloration of the fish.  A well framed, posed photo can be no less gratifying than holding two handfuls of bass on a muddy, concrete, lake ramp.  Furthermore, the measurement of weight is no greater than the measurement of length.  Most anglers, myself included, lust after some mystical poundage mark; the ten pounder, the twelve pounder.  So, why, may I ask, is it so less remarkable to take pride in a twenty-four incher or a twenty-seven incher?  Imagine, if you will, two bass measuring twenty-four inches in length.  One weighs six pounds-nice ounces, while the other weighs eight pounds-three ounces.  Genetics, environmental factors, spawn phase all shape the destiny and the girth measurements of these fish.  However, nothing makes the heavier fish any more difficult to catch.  Nor, does it prove any greater angling feat or measure of skill.  As there is some correlation between age and weight to the degree of difficulty in the catch, there is the same correlation between age and length.  Finally, CPR and the measurement of length is no more susceptible to cheating, falsification, and unsportsmanship.  Competitive bass fishing, from conception to present day, is, has, and will always be rife with cheating.  Planting fish in cages, weighting down with lead, fishing out of bounds, using live bait or other illegal methods has and will always be a constant threat to the integrity of the sport.  So, why does a picture of the fish on a certified measuring device, with a designated, non-replicable marker, and a digitally inscribed time stamp scare people so?  Cheating is black and white, so there is no difference between bringing in an illegal fish and bringing in the picture of an illegal fish except the reduced chances of survival.  In conclusion, CPR tournaments offer all the benefits of a live weigh-in while greatly reducing the mortality rate.  Anglers win based on the same exact factors of skill, strategy, and fortune.  Furthermore, it does no less to preserve both the integrity of our sport and the spirit of competition.  The move from weight based to length based competition is no less than a lateral move and is no less susceptible to falsification.  My wish is that more tournament series will move away from the live weigh-in format and adopt the Catch Photo Release format as our kayak tournament series use today.  I am by no means suggesting the Elite Series move to the CPR format.  I do believe, however, that smaller leagues, series, and tournaments will benefit from the CPR format as our fisheries will, no doubt, hold more target weight-length class fish.

The Alternative.......

 All of these fish are magnum sized Spotted Bass which were Caught, Photoed, and Released.  These fish will survive and I will come back and catch them when they grow to trophy class length!  Tournament fishing and stewardship can go hand-in-hand.  Practice C.P.R.