Ripping Lips?

[Dirtracer35]

Okay. So we've caught at least 30+ bass in the past few months. Keepers and shorts that have the bottom jaw either broke. Or completely ripped down the middle. Anybody else seeing this? Caught a 4.5lb largemouth today and her jaw was completely ripped. It was a miracle I even hooked her.

I'm leaning toward this being caused by walleye anglers. But who knows. Seems like way more than just an isolated incident. It's from one side of the lake to the other. Seems highly illegal. And if I ever see anybody doing this. WP and MDC will be contacted on the spot.

[powerdive]

This walleye angler is leaning toward this being caused by bass anglers who don't use nets and don't handle their fish properly. Just like the big boys on TV.

[Dirtracer35]

Never held a fish by the lip and had it rip all the way down to the crushers...

[Feathers and Fins]

Typically when I see fish dead from human causes its ripping gills not lips. I would tend to agree with PD on this one, I have seen bass with their lips ripped many times and can usually find a fresh or old scar, I wouldn't say anyone is doing it on purpose but the way I see some of these kids today ripping the bass by the lip flinging it around hooting with their buddy and then still doing it looking for a camera I lean toward that being the cause.

[Dutch]

I have only seen one of two of the condition you mention and I have fished all over the lake many times this year. I doubt it would be walleye anglers or even bass tournament fishermen who would be doing this. Maybe F & F is on to something.

[dprice]

Nope I've seen 40 to 50 fish myself These fish appear to be cut in two with dikes or pliers. If they swim left bottom lip is hanging down left side and right is down right side. No mistake here ! These fish are in channel swing areas almost dominatly . The only natural thought I had was a turtle. But this seems unlogical.

[5bites]

That is very strange. If you could get a pic that would be cool. I've never seen the "big boys" on tv hack their fish up.

[dprice]

I will make. A effort to get one and post a pic . I sat at state park one day and caught 3 back to back from a point. All with the same disfigurement . I thought someone was marking there fish to track them ? dprice

[Bassmaster21]

I have caught bass that meet this description, enough to make me wonder... But I can almost guarantee it is not the cause of how anglers handle the fish. Almost every fish I catch is swung in the boat and I hold them by the lip to get the hooks out and no damage is ever done. To tear them the way they are it is almost as though an angler would have to purposefully tear the lip like you would rip a piece of paper w/ two hands. It could be due to how the fish are caught though i.e. type of lures, hooksets, etc. Could it also be caused by anglers breaking off and the fish trying to spit the free hook? Could it also be the bass' forage? Lots of crawdads being eaten and spiny perch. Doubt it but who knows

[hknfsh]

I've haven't seen this at all with the bass I've caught so far this season. We've been catching a lot and they have intact jaws and lips. I don't believe it has anything at all to do with lures or hooks. You can hear my hook sets across the lake and the fish come in hooked in the lips as usual....normal release with no tears or rips to the mouth or jaws. Why does anyone think someone is purposely breaking..cutting..ripping them ? And how could one or a few anglers do this throughout the whole lake ? If it is on purpose....then why you suppose ??? I'm baffled on this one ?