Thrashing after release

[tonyjor]

Just a quick question someone may know offhand. I'm pretty good about selective harvest and CPR. The past couple times I've been out, I released every fish I caught and both times out at least one fish thrashed the surface 5-10 minutes after I released it. The first one was a 3-4# bass, which I can understand. The other fish were northerns in the 5# range. I caught them, reeled them in quickly(80# PP line ), removed the hook(s) and slid them back into the water. About 5-10 minutes later, they come up and swim just beneath the surface about 15 feet from my boat, thrash a few seconds and swim away. I'm almost positive they are the same fish I just caught and I was wondering if they're mad or what? I know that I didn't hurt them or wear them out too much. If anyone knows why they did this, let me know and thanks!

[Pig_sticka]

If they were from deep water it could be the swim bladder and the fish not being able to get back down soon enough.

[Fisher Dave]

Its that time of year with high water temps.. the fish get stressed pretty easy. I have been seeing it become more difficult to release Flatheads even.. they are probably just recooperating(sp?) and just happen to be coming to the surface... all we can do is handle them as little as possible and get them back in the water.. you are dong all you can.

The fish mad at you? I doubt it.. but its a crazy world... everyone seems to have an attitude these days*

[tonyjor]

They all came from 15 FOW or less.

[SledNeck]

sometimes when I catch fish like northerns and bass and have to get the hooks out of their throat they dont look so go when they hit the water...they thrash around for a while and what usually happens is a Bald Eagle swoops down and grabs it. We are infested with eagles, its getting to be pretty bad when they come right down next to your boat to grab the fish.