The Oxygen Edge ™, a live bait tank oxygen system that supercharge live bait fish and shrimp in saltwater and freshwater bait tanks, bait wells and livewells when bait tank aeration systems such as KeepAlive aerators, Kodiak bait tanks, Rule and Flow-Rite bait tank pumps, and aeration systems fail to keep a live bait frisky or tournament fish oxygenated and healthy in summer livewells.
Bait tank, bait well or livewell oxygen injection systems supercharge saltwater and freshwater live bait shrimp, shad, croakers, croakers, menhaden, pilchard, mullet, pinfish, white bait, greenback, ballyhoo, goggle eye, shiners, minnows, alewifes and chubs in closed livewell systems.
Delayed mortality for tournament catch and release fish including black bass, redfish, bone fish, striped bass, snook, speckled trout, walleye and crappie is substantial during summer tournaments. Scientific research has proven that all live tournament fish are released healthier and survive all day transports better in oxygen injected or oxygen enriched (>24% oxygen or greater) boat livewells during summer tournaments. Every tournament angler and tournament director knows, the catch does poorly and delayed mortality increases when tournament hooked gamefish are transported in boat livewells, weigh-n holding tanks and release boat livewells that have insufficient dissolved oxygen concentrations caused by livewell aerators and water pumps every summer. Livewell aerators pump air, not oxygen. Livewell and bait tank water pumps pump water, not oxygen.
Unlike mechanical aerators and livewell water pumps that are limited because of air, The Oxygen Edge™ delivers a controlled precision dose of pure 100% compressed oxygen that's adjustable insuring safe, dependable continuous oxygen concentrations for all the captives being transported whether that's one hour, overnight, a week or more.
The Oxygen Edge™ cost as much as a pair of Costa Del Mar sunglasses, a medium grade Academy rod and reel or one decent Kayak paddle. The Oxygen Edge™ will increase a boat note about $4 a month.
Portable livewell oxygen systems must be dependable 24/7, must be capable of delivering high concentrations and high volumes of pure oxygen and must operate continuously with no failure. Oxygen equipment failure or malfunction guarantees acute total livewell mortality.
The Oxygen Edge™ injects pure compressed welding oxygen into livewells and bait tank water. Supercharging requires more oxygen than the small amount needed to simply keep bait and fish alive and healthy. Fish hatchery transporters use the same commercial welding oxygen for live fish transports. Pure liquid oxygen (LOX) is less expensive for long hauls.
Steve Quinn, Editor, In-Fisherman magazine, "Oxygen And Fish Care', Breakthrough In Bait Care & Tournament Survival." "Kingfish and striper tournament boats are increasingly equipped with oxygenation systems. Not only don't baitfish die, but they're unusually more active on the hook and they draw more strikes." http://www.in-fisherman.com/magazine/exclusives/if2806_Science/
George Poveromo, Editor-at-Large, Saltwater Sportsman magazine emphasizes the supreme importance of artificially supercharging and transporting those difficult live offshore bait fish during the summer when live bait quality and durability is of primary importants: http://www.saltwatersportsman.com/article/Gear-and-Techniques/Supercharge-Your-Live-Baits
Allen Tarvid, Bass & Walleye Boats magazine writes more about the necessity of using livewell oxygen injection to transport healthy live bait in boat livewells during the summer: "Livewell Dynamics." http://www.vabass.com/Features/2002/October.htm
American Rodsmith's owner of Gulf Coast Troutmasters tournament series is a catch and release saltwater speckled trout tournament circuit. Anglers choose the degree of care they provide for their catch. Those providing the best possible fish care are rewarded with bonus points... positive motivation to provide better fish care that reduces tournament mortality increasing post release survival. Anglers and tournament directors have chosen to use novel tournament fish handling and weigh-in procedures that dramatically reduced summer tournament delayed mortality. Oxygen injection is used extensively in boat livewells, weigh-in holding tanks and release boat haul tanks.
Unlike bass tournaments that punish contestants when weighing in dead fish with dead fish punishment... negative motivation, each live fish weighed-in receives a 1/2 lb. additional bonus reward. Dead fish are not penalized nor are anglers shamed for failure to keep their catch alive. Anglers are rewarded for following the recommended tournament fish care guidelines, by really providing the best fish care possible in the boat livewell. It is well documented that positive motivation produces greater success and that negative motivation generates punishment and fear of punishment. The "dead fish penalty" is negative motivation.
Tournament fish loose weight quickly after death, consider weighing-in live fish in catch and kill tournaments, take advantage of modern technology and take advantage of a serious competitive edge.
REDUCING SUMMER TOURNAMENT FISHING MORTALITY IS ALWAYS THE RESPONSIBILITY of INDIVIDUAL TOURNAMENT ANGLERS AND TOURNAMENT DIRECTORS
Keeping Your Tournament-Caught Bass ALIVE
See Figure 1: THE 7% SOLUTION IS THE BEST METHOD FOR REDUCING SUMMER BASS KILLS http://www.state.tn.us/twra/fish/Reservoir/blackbass/livebass2.pdf
What Causes [Tournament C&R] Mortality?
• Physical Injury
• Oxygen Deprivation
• High Ammonia or Carbon Dioxide
• High Water Temperatures
What Causes Delayed Mortality?
• Oxygen Debt
• Toxins in the Bloodstream
• Infections
Images and text used with permission of Gene Gilliland of the Oklahoma, Department of Wildlife Conservation Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, Reservoir Fisheries Management Program and Tennessee B.A.S.S Federation. Published January 2003.
Keeping Bass Alive
Presented by Toyota Trucks
BASS CONSERVATION
“Today, it's as important as ever to ensure that the tournament fish we catch will survive to be caught another day. That's why in 2002, BASS published the book, Keeping Bass Alive, the most comprehensive book for tournament anglers and organizers ever published. The first version of KBA was filled with not only tips and techniques for taking better care of your fish, but it also provided the science behind the techniques.”
http://sports.espn.go.com/outdoors/bassmaster/conservation/news/story?page=b_con_KBA_landing July 28, 2009
KEEPING BASS ALIVE:
A Guidebook for Anglers and Tournament Organizers
Published by: ESPN Productions, Inc/B.A.S.S. Copyright 2002 B.A.S.S.®
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Data on livewell oxygen consumption were provided by Steven Cooke, David Phillipp, Jason Schreer, and David Wahl from research funded by the Center for Aquatic Ecology, Illinois Natural History Survey, University of Illinois, the University of Waterloo, and the Canadian Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council.
The authors also acknowledge the support of the Federal Aid in Sport Fish Restoration Program for funding a number of the research projects from which our recommendations have come.
Helpful reviews of this booklet were provided by Steven Cooke, Illinois Natural History Survey; Todd Driscoll, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department; David Kinser, Oxygenation Systems of Texas; Will Kirkpatrick, Broaddus, Texas; Bill Anderson, Rick Horton and Kevin Richards, Missouri Department of Conservation; and B.A.S.S. staff members: Don Corkran, Mark Cosper, Chuck Harbin, Dewey Kendrick, Dean Kessel, George McNeilly, Dave Precht, Al Smith, Diehl Unger and Trip Weldon.
http://assets.espn.go.com/winnercomm/outdoors/bassmaster/pdf/Keeping_Bass_Alive.pdf
The Oxygen Edge™ a new pure compressed oxygen livewell technology developed by David Kinser, Oxygenation Systems of Texas was extensively tested and used for the scientific research preceding the publishing of "Keeping Bass Alive" in the summer of 1999. The technical expertise and oxygen safety issues addressed and provided by David Kinser are seen throughout the publication.
Keeping Bass Alive written by Senior Fishery Biologist, Gene Gilliland, Hal Schramm, Ph.D., and Bruce Shupp, former B.A.S.S. National Conservation Director address the need and effectiveness of administering supplemental pure compressed welding oxygen with oxygen injection in anglers' tournament boat livewells, weigh-in holding tanks and release boat transport livewells was proven to dramatically increase post summer tournament survival and substantially reduce acute and delayed summer tournament mortality. The Oxygen Edge ™, an adjustable dose livewell oxygen injection technology advanced tournament fish transport to state-of-the-art technology. The importance of livewell oxygenation is discussed extensively.
http://espn.go.com/outdoors/bassmaster/s/b_cons_bass_alive_launch.html
"The authors and B.A.S.S. recognize that oxygen injection into livewells will be the NEXT BIG MOVEMENT for bass survival, says Shupp. He adds that B.A.S.S. will be working with the boating industry to ensure that oxygen injection systems become a reality." Bruce Shupp, "A Prescription for Survival," Bassmaster Magazine, June 2001, pg. 51-53. Mr. Schupp, former B.A.S.S. National Conservation Director.
Gene Gilliland, "A Prescription for Survival," Bassmaster Magazine, June 2001, pg. 51-53. "State of The Art [bass boat] livewell systems will incorporate the use of pure compressed welding oxygen. Adding [compressed] oxygen to the livewell is currently the BEST option for keeping tournament bass healthy in the summer. Period." (Click on the "Tournament Mortality" link, written by Gene Gilliland.)
Gene Gilliland, Senior Fishery Biologist, B.A.S.S. tournament fish care, expert, consultant and tournament angler, Oklahoma Fisheries Research Lab, Norman, OK. GGillOkla@aol.com
Hal Schramm, Ph.D., "Surviving the Summer", B.A.S.S. Times, Bass Biology, August 2001, pg. 3. "Have you ever wondered how good your boat aeration system is? Unless you are using an oxygen injection system - see Gene Gilliland's article in the June issue of Bassmaster Magazine - I can tell you that your aeration system isn't very good. I mean no insult to you or individual manufactures of bass boats. Temperature control, salt and supplemental oxygen are the BEST ways to ensure survival of bass held in livewells." http://sports.espn.go.com/outdoors/bassmaster/news/story?page=bass_biology_suviving_summer
Dr. Schramm, B.A.S.S. tournament fish care consultant and the Leader of the U.S. Geological Survey Mississippi Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit and Professor, Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, Mississippi State University. HSchramm@CFR.MsState.Edu
The Oxygen Edge™ does offer THE BEST possible care for all summer tournament hooked fish, freshwater and saltwater species, being transported in boat livewells because it's a dependable life support system that is simple to operate with no moving parts, no noise and no electricity to drain your battery. All boat livewell mechanical aeration systems and flow through livewell systems offer only THE SECOND BEST fish care possible during summer tournaments. You may choose the degree of tournament fish care you are willing to provide for your catch.
Gene Gilliland used, tested and evaluated effectiveness of The Oxygen Edge™ system in the summers of 1998-99. His research finding, "The Ultimate Fish Care System", was presented at the 2000 Black Bass Symposium, American Fisheries Society Conference, August 2000 in St. Lewis and published in scientific literature.
Gilliland's research with The Oxygen Edge™ demonstrated that compressed oxygen alone, in bass boat live wells (no catch and release chemicals or ice added to the well water) reduced total summer black bass tournament mortality including delayed mortality to only 7% summer tournament kill. An anglers ability to manage livewell water quality by simply injecting enough pure compressed oxygen into the well water eliminated hypoxia, which is the most serious livewell water quality problem in the summer in livewells. Considering the evolution of tournament fishing in the past 30 years, 93% summer survival is impressive. "State of the Art" tournament bass care incorporates the continuous injection of compressed welding oxygen that is dose controlled and regulated into bass boat livewell water continuously, which is the anglers responsibility for fish care and the optimum safe livewell water quality.
It is essential that the correct dose of pure oxygen that is safe is based on the total weight of fish being transported in the livewell, not the livewell water capacity. The correct dose of oxygen for live fish being transported is 100% saturation or greater in livewell water and must maintained continuously while being transported in captivity. A substantial controlled dose of pure compressed welding oxygen or LOX oxygen administered continuously in transport is required to accomplish this especially in the summer.
From the public relations viewpoint and fisheries conservation, we, the collective tournament bass fishing industry will all benefit by providing the best tournament bass care possible during summer tournaments. The degree of fish care we are willing to provide is a choice that all bass C&R tournament contestants, Tournament Directors and Tournament Conservation Directors must make.
Tournament anglers and tournament directors must choose whether we are really willing to provide that extra effort and minimal cost for pure oxygenation equipment in order to guarantee THE BEST BASS CARE possible during summer tournaments from the early morning catch to final release in the afternoon. Our collective actions will speak much louder than our words, now that the B.A.S.S. researchers have provided new definitive guidelines for optimum summer tournament bass care. Providing supplemental compressed oxygen injection is not only a conservation issue, it's a serious public relation's issue, moral, ethical issue and the public is aware and watching for post tournament fish kills these days.
The "Homemade System" page points out important consumer information needed when buying or building oxygen systems with medical equipment or welding equipment. You will find important information on the "Safety" page that describes some rules of the bait tank oxygen road. Oxygen enriched environments inside oxygenated livewells ( >24% oxygen) must be handled respectfully, oxygen is not air. High pressure air tanks (SCUBA), oxygen tanks and helium tanks demand equal handling respect; all high pressure gas cylinders are regulated by the US Coast Guard and US Department of Transportation whether it's medical oxygen or welding oxygen cylinders.
Live baitfish and bait shrimp act like they're pumped up on steroids with The Oxygen Edge™. Serious anglers reaching for the liveliest bait fish, reach for The Oxygen Edge™ especially in the summer.
Oxy-Chum™ chums saltwater and freshwater livebait fish and target fish, creating a "Honey Hole" of extremely high dissolved oxygen underwater in the summer. Pure 100% oxygen bubbled under hot lake water in the summer induces the congregation of all fish species. High dissolved oxygen concentrations stimulate summer feeding in hot environmental water, when the bite slows down every July and August.
Understanding the optimum conditions for chumming gamefish and baitfish with pure compressed welding oxygen: http://chronicle.augusta.com/stories/2009/08/11/met_543971.shtm
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The Oxygen Edge™ See OE 3/7-A model system components at
" Photo, Systems, Price " web page $419.25
A high quality, reliable bait tank oxygen-injection system that's built for anglers with limited fishing budget.
The Oxygen Edge ™ is the world's original and most dependable livewell oxygen-injection system, established 1993. It's a turn-on-and-forget system that is dependable, adjustable, portable and cost effective as live bait prices skyrocket because of rising fuel costs.
Do you need a part or two to complete your homemade livewell oxygen system? Purchase additional high quality American made Oxygen Edge™ parts and components individually, we'll help you build your system.
NEW WEB PAGE Largemouth / Smallmouth - why Smallmouth bass die quicker than Largemouth bass
Check out our new inexpensive OE-D model system using a disposable Bernzomatic® O2 cylinder and solid brass adjustable dose oxygen regulator. Other brands of O2 systems using the same disposable O2 cylinder costs $200.00, but preset oxygen regulators deliver a very small fixed dose of oxygen that cannot be adjusted by fishermen which can be as deadly as mechanical aerators or worse with a fixed dose of air. One 3 - 7 lb. tournament gamefish fish needs much more oxygen than 3 oz [a handful] of shiners.
The correct dose of oxygen must be adjustable and delivered continuously or you will loose again. The dose of oxygen required to keep live fish healthy during transport has nothing to do with the livewells water volume, the size of the livewell water pump or how much air your aerator pumps. The dose of pure oxygen has everything to do with correcting the oxygen debt, preventing oxygen debt and continuously satisfying basal metabolism requirements of all the captive live bait or fish you're transporting the for the entire time of captivity including individual tournament fishing boats to release boats.
Crisis Intervention with supplemental pure oxygen-injection will save you money and reduce your stress and anxiety! Some fishermen often choose to use the OE-D system for short term portable emergency oxygen in conjunction with your aerated bait tank/livewell, for life-saving emergencies to revive a dieing tournament fish in crisis before weigh-in to avoid that expensive "dead fish penalty." Live bait fishermen may want to oxygenate (supercharge) lethargic baits that are 'piping' with an intermittent blast of pure oxygen to rejuvenate them and keep them alive longer, make them stronger on the hook than fresh-caught bait and extremely active.
Emergency oxygen with throw-away disposable oxygen cylinders.
Click here: OE-D Model $109.75
Oxygen Edge component - Oxygen cylinder mounting bracket
Compare prices, system characteristics, limitations, advantages and disadvantaged of many different brands and classifications of livewell and bait tank oxygen systems. Learn the facts about different types of livewell oxygen delivery systems. What boat salesmen, aerator and bait tank and other salesmen never, ever talk about. http://www.oxyedge-chum.com/o2_system_comparisons.htm
Oxygen systems are not created equally by any stretch of the imagination although many would encourage you to believe oxygen and air are the same gas and do the same thing; know your equipment, know the difference between air systems and pure oxygen systems because lives, health and your dollars are at stake.
WEBSITE UPDATED --- Tuesday July 29, 2010
Ask questions, lots of questions
The BIG difference between aeration or oxygenation is life or death
Make an informed choice, buy the best, call, place an order anytime
(409) 267-6458 OR E-mail: supercharger@oxyedge-chum.com
Oxygenation Systems of Texas, P. O. Box 383, 4335 S. Main, Anahuac, Texas 77514
Established 1993
Our professional fish care customer support is unmatched. When you have livewell mortality problems in the summer transporting, stockpiling live baitfish, bait shrimp or transporting live tournament gamefish, give us a call. That problem is easy to fix.
Copyright © 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 by David A. Kinser, all rights reserved.
Reproduction of copyrighted material on this web site requires expressed and written permission from Oxygenation Systems of Texas. Any use or reproduction of material or images on this web site published without permission is strictly prohibited.