Culling & Fish Care

Efficient culling and keeping a healthy livewell—dead-fish penalties can decide a tournament.

Also known as: Culling & fish care

This chapter starts from traceable on-the-water reports to break down gear, positioning, and execution choices. First read the situations that fit the day’s conditions, then use the adjustment checklist to handle specific issues.

1. Real Cases and Complete Tackle Pairings — Real Case: What happened, and what can be learned In 2020 at Santee Cooper, Palaniuk self-reported a violation for continuing to fish while there were six bass in the…
2. Situational Execution: boat position, target, cadence, and adjustments — The first keeper: establish ID, weight, and livewell slot at the same time After confirming legal length and rules, handle with wet hands or wet net, tare/zero the…
3. Adjustment checklist, on-water practice, and references — What to do next when there is or isn’t a reaction Records don’t match identifiers: stop fishing and verify immediately—do not guess. Count not verified after a cull…
4. Principles and operational details — Culling starts with rules and fish condition First confirm whether selective keep-and-release is allowed for the current water, species, and event, as well as limits…