Bass Redistribution After Weigh‑In: Three Tournament Organizations Weigh In

Three major tournament sponsors share their perspective on natural movement, assisted release, and what anglers should know.

I followed up on two of my articles, Centripetal Displacement: Where Do All the Bass Go After Weigh‑In? (https://southernfishingnews.com/centripetal-displacement-where-do-all-the-bass-go-after-weigh-in/) and Tournament Release Redistribution: Auburn School of Fisheries (https://southernfishingnews.com/tournament-release-redistribution-auburn-school-of-fisheries/) with three tournament management organizations: B.A.S.S., Major League Fishing (MLF), and the Alabama Bass Trail (ABT).

Please keep in mind that my inquiries are not anti-tournament or pro-tournament, but simply an interest in post-tournament weigh-in releases impact on the re-distribution of bass in a body of water. Also not considered is the fact that the general public loves to attend tournament weigh-ins and see the fish and hear from the contestants.

I reached out to these organizations to get their perspective on the subject of bass re-distribution (both natural and assisted). All were very forthcoming in their response to my inquiry.

First is the response from Gene Gilliland, Conservation Director of B.A.S.S.

What format does B.A.S.S. use in the release of fish post-weigh-in?
All Bassmaster tournaments (Junior, High School, College, B.A.S.S. Nation, Open, Elite) utilize the same release protocols. We have a fleet of five Yamaha/AFTCO Live Release pontoon boats. We use two and sometimes three boats at each tournament. Each boat has a four-compartment tank that holds a total of 600 gallons of water. When we are in need of additional capacity at certain locations, we often utilize LR boats provided by AFTCO or the New York B.A.S.S. Nation.

The protocols that we follow were originally developed and tested by researchers at Queens University in Ontario in conjunction with Shimano. They found that LR boats act as recovery stations to help the fish begin to get over the stress of capture and weigh-in.

We treat the tank water with non-iodized salt, which is a time-tested formula that aquaculture producers have used for decades. In addition, if water temperatures are over 70 degrees, we add moderate amounts of ice to maintain a slightly cooler environment (only 5-7 degrees below lake temperature). Historically, we used a bottled oxygen system to maintain adequate O2 levels, but we recently converted our fleet to use the PiranhO2 oxygen concentrating system.

We monitor the weight of fish being loaded onto the boats and follow a 600-pound capacity rule (one pound per gallon of water). When a boat reaches capacity, it is sent out to release the fish, and we begin loading the second boat. The fish are typically released one to three miles away from the weigh-in venue. In events with large numbers of contestants and large catches, we may load, empty, refill, and reload the boats several times during the course of the weigh-in.

What is the release method’s impact on the distribution of the bass after the weigh-in?
Our goal in using our LR boats is to move fish away from high-traffic areas around marinas and boat ramps and allow the fish to disperse in multiple directions. Each LR boat tank has four compartments, which enable us to release fish in several different locations, rather than dumping them all in one spot. Each of the boats will go in different directions from the weigh-in site to disperse fish as far as is practical. However, the distance from the venue can be limited by wind and waves, given that a fully loaded release boat is carrying almost 5000 pounds of water and fish, which is relatively slow and does not have a great range.

On rare occasions, we are asked by either local or state authorities to haul fish to more distant release locations. Those requests are seldom based on evidence that our tournament is causing harm to the bass population, but rather, it is because of a perception among local anglers that the quality of their fishing is being impacted by our event(s). When we receive such requests, we try to enlist the assistance of a local B.A.S.S. Nation chapters that have live-release trailers or tournament-friendly state fish & wildlife agencies who are willing to assist with the redistribution of fish to more distant locations using their hatchery hauling trucks or trailers.

Does B.A.S.S. have any plans to switch from a stage weigh-in to a catch-and-release format?
We are often asked why we don’t use the “MLF format,” and we remind people that MLF only uses the catch-weigh-release format in the Bass Pro Tour events that have only 50 anglers. They use the same 5-fish traditional weigh-in and release system for all of the other tournaments that they operate in the BFLs, Toyota Series, and the Pro Circuit.

B.A.S.S. currently has no plans to change our typical weigh-in/release format. Our business model is based on getting fans to a weigh-in venue — and the fans want to see fish. However, we do use a modified catch-weigh-release format during Elite tournaments when we visit Lake Fork in Texas. This allows us to work around the 16-24” slot length limit on that lake. Anglers are allowed to bring in their single largest bass (over 24”). For that event, we must recruit 100+ judges who go through a training process to ensure that every fish is weighed the same way. The logistics of recruiting and training from 100 to over 250 judges for every other tournament we operate are simply not practical at this time. And although kayak tournaments are using Catch-Measure-Release successfully, they have far fewer anglers – and when there is a $100,000 first prize on the line, anglers insist that the fish be weighed on certified scales, not measured in inches. That said, as technology advances, B.A.S.S. will certainly look into alternative formats to see if they have a place in how we conduct our events.

Has B.A.S.S. conducted or contracted any studies on the distribution of tournament-released bass?
B.A.S.S. has not conducted any fish distribution studies on its own. We have provided fish to numerous state agencies over the last 50 years to help answer questions about dispersal. The most recent was on Lake St. Clair in Michigan, where radio tracking devices were surgically implanted into a number of tournament-caught Smallmouth Bass that were loaded on our LR boat with others from the day’s catch and released in Anchor Bay. The results of the tracking showed a 100% survival of those fish, with at least one of them returning to the location where the angler caught it – nearly 50 miles away!

Next is the response from Joe Opager, Major League Fishing.

Fish care has always been a major priority for Major League Fishing, and our protocols vary somewhat by circuit, event format, venue, and the requirements or recommendations of local fisheries agencies and permitting authorities.

As you noted, MLF utilizes a catch-weigh-immediate-release format in several of our premier circuits and events, including the Bass Pro Tour and Fishing Clash Team Series. In that format, bass are weighed in the boat on certified scales, recorded by officials through SCORETRACKER®, and immediately released back into the water near where they were caught. That format was created in large part to reduce handling time, eliminate transport to a weigh-in site, and return fish to their home waters as quickly as possible.

MLF also operates traditional five-fish-limit events across several circuits, including large-field formats where a stage weigh-in remains an important part of the competitive and fan experience. At those events, fish care procedures are built around minimizing stress and handling time, maintaining proper livewell and holding-tank conditions, and returning fish to the fishery as efficiently as possible following weigh-in. MLF uses live-release boats at its weigh-in events, unless directed otherwise by local fisheries agencies or permitting authorities. Those release procedures are coordinated based on the specific fishery, event site, field size, agency guidance, and local logistics.

Regarding tournament-released bass distribution, we are aware of the broader fisheries discussion around post-weigh-in redistribution and understand the biological questions associated with concentrating released fish near weigh-in sites. MLF has not conducted or contracted a formal study specifically focused on post-tournament release distribution. However, we continually evaluate fish-care practices and tournament operations with input from fisheries professionals, state agencies, host communities, and our internal tournament staff.

MLF has not announced a wholesale move of all circuits to a catch-weigh-release format, but the catch-weigh-immediate-release format remains a key part of MLF’s identity and is one of the ways we have tried to lead the sport forward in fish care, conservation, and live tournament coverage. For circuits that continue to use traditional weigh-ins, our goal is to operate those events responsibly, follow agency guidance, and use best practices that prioritize bass survival and the long-term health of the fisheries we visit.

And finally, the reply from Kay Donaldson, Alabama Bass Trail.

Kay addresses more on the fish care side than the post-weigh-in distribution of the fish. But, her detailed reply explaining the cost of tournament production is appreciated nonetheless.

“First, the distribution of fish post weigh-in. I am not aware of any concerns that have been raised regarding the distribution of bass post weigh-in. I do know that release boats are now costing upwards of 100K-120K depending on the size of the tanks. And that doesn’t include the cost to store them, maintenance costs, hauling costs, insurance, or the cost associated with having someone trained to operate the boat.

I would venture to say 99% of tournament trails don’t have the resources to acquire and operate release boats. In 2024, the ABT spent $100,000 on a new fishcare trailer that has the newest oxygen delivery system available. I estimate the operation cost of that trailer is approximately $35,000 annually. That consists of hauling, chemicals, insurance, maintenance, and having 2 full-time employees on fishcare during ABT events. Again, I don’t know how many tournament trails can afford those types of expenses.

Your second question was, “Would the ABT challenge the implementation of catch, weigh, and release?

I don’t think that in the current environment, anglers will support catch, weigh, and release tournaments. MLF’s catch-weigh-release tournaments are successful because there is a paid official in each boat with a live camera. That is almost impossible to do with a 100, 150, 200, or 225 boat field. Again, I haven’t been made aware of any movement from the state toward catch, weigh, release mandates.”

These explanations and insights by tournament organizations should, again, educate anglers about what bass do after weigh-in release. Your comments are welcome.

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