Livewell issue

[drillsgt67]

I purchased a new 2014 Skeeter ZX20 this year. It may have 30 hours on it. My issue is the fish continue to die. I fill the livewells and run the AUTO recirt all day. The recirt also empties the livewells faster than they refill. I keep an eye on that to make sure it remains full. I know of another guy in my town with the same boat experiencing the same issue. Any thoughts???

[Meleagris1]

Maybe someone with an FX can chime in but on my 20i you need to run both recirc AND fill on auto to make sure that new water is coming in. Recirc pumps and fill pumps are the same GPH so there should be no difference in pump speed. If you are finding that your livewell water level is dropping I'm guessing that you are filling it, then just running on recirc only, and loosing some water through the overflow ports as you run around? Once I have 5 fish I run the recirc and fill on auto and set the interval to "high". Also make sure that your overflow ports are not plugged, leave them open and keep the fill on auto. New water is what fish need. The only time I plug the overflow openings is when running in very rough water.

[wthom12]

Not to be a smartarse but is the red nozzle in the top of the livewell pushed in? And is it turn downward. The only time I had a fish die in my FX I forgot to push the red nozzle back in from pump out to fill a bag with water at the last weigh in.

[Rich Z]

No problem with loosing water from live wells on 2012fx. I wish live wells were bigger tho. Having problems with 20+ lb of fish crammed into one well and keeping them alive.

[pabucketmouth]

I only use recirculate when the boat is on the trailer waiting for weigh in. When the first fish goes in the live well, the fill pump goes on auto..... Done.... Never lose fish do to heat or lack of oxygen in the water.

[skeeter333]

Not to be a smartarse but is the red nozzle in the top of the livewell pushed in? And is it turn downward. The only time I had a fish die in my FX I forgot to push the red nozzle back in from pump out to fill a bag with water at the last weigh in.

That's not a smartass remark. that is a very good possibility.

[Randy T]

How deep are these fish you are catching?, Is it any time of the year or just summer heat? Get some rejuvinade or equivalent.

[Meleagris1]

I only use recirculate when the boat is on the trailer waiting for weigh in. When the first fish goes in the live well, the fill pump goes on auto..... Done.... Never lose fish do to heat or lack of oxygen in the water.

The fact that you are running the fill pumps and no recirc at all without any problems shows just how important it is to add new water regularly throughout the day. Adding fresh water is really the key - its far more important than aeration, chemicals, ice etc.

[johnpec]

Make sure the livewells are NOT completely full. Keep the water level a inch or so below the "red" recirculation nozzel. This will allow proper recirculation and maintain needed oxygen levels.

[drillsgt67]

Agreed not a smartass remark. They are pushed in. Fish are not deep. I am on vacation this week and on the water daily. I will try the fill auto and recir auto and see what that does. Thanks for all the responses.

[4skeetr]

Recirc only when on trailer. Otherwise fresh water on timer. Never lose fish.

[woppercatcher]

I run the auto fill and recirc all day. I use G2 treatment and the fish clips as well. Never lost a fish yet. Then at the end of the tourney I completely drain and wipe down my livewells in the parking lot before I leave.

[drillsgt67]

Running both fill and recirculation pumps seems to have cured the issue. Only lost one fish this week. One to many but better than 5.

[rickmb]

After the initial fill I leave the fill and recirc on auto. I use Glory Bags and Please Release Me. I have not lost a fish in three years and in south Texas we fish year round so that's a lot of fish. In fact my fish come out kicking and ready to fight again.
In the heat of summer I freeze bottles of water and will put one or two in if I'm fishing in the afternoon.
I usually don't put five fish in one well. I will keep three in one and my culling fish in the other.