12-Pound, 15-Ounce Largemouth Bass Caught During FWC Investigative Study

catch and release conservation

A 12-pound, 15-ounce largemouth bass was caught during annual spring electrofishing as part of a study investigating the benefit of catch and release conservation of trophy-sized bass. (MyFWC.com image)
A 12-pound, 15-ounce largemouth bass was caught as part of a study investigating the benefit of catch and release conservation of trophy-sized bass. (MyFWC.com image)

A 12-pound, 15-ounce largemouth bass was caught as part of a study investigating the benefit of catch and release conservation of trophy-sized bass.

It turns out this bass had quite a history.

It was first tagged in the fall of 2010 (weighing 6 to 8 pounds) and caught and released by an angler in 2011.

In over four years it gained 5-7 pounds, which is better than the average growth rate for a trophy-sized fish.

This bass was involved in three different studies and has been subject to electrofishing twice, tagged twice and caught by an angler.

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It’s survived, thrived and provided us with valuable data that will aid in the FWC’s trophy bass conservation efforts.

It now bears a new tag, and we’re eager to see if this special fish turns up again in 2016.