Does holding a weigh-in on a paved surface or far from the release site cause more fish to die?
Paved surfaces, particularly black ones, absorb heat and can warm water faster than if tanks or bags of water were held over grassy and shady areas. Weigh-in stations on paved surfaces may be more harmful than if those stations were established in grassy areas. Paved surfaces (such as parking lots) are also usually more distant from the docks where fish will be released. This distance increases transit time for the bass from the boat, to the weigh-in station, and then to the release site. The goals of well-run, catch-and-release tournaments are to keep fish alive by keeping them in ambient water temperatures and getting them to their release site as quickly as possible. Thus, tournament directors strive to establish their weigh-in stations in cool, shaded areas and maintain tanks with cool water that is rich in oxygen. Popular tournament sites such as Gunpowder Falls State Park and Smallwood State Park offer facilities near the docks to help cool and rejuvenate fish. In some cases, the
