First problem........parking-area/beach-closure......next, fish-finder fail......and then……………...... - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

bolocop · 11-09-2015, 09:01 AM

Venting is not recommended and it makes sense not to poke a hole in the air bladder.

What I have done in the past is make a recompression tool. I used a long-shanked hook and pressed in the barb. You attach the weight to the eye of the hook and attach the line to the bend in the hook. Yes, you use the hook upside-down.

You then hook the rockfish through the lower lip and drop everything in the water. At about 100 ft, yank up on rod and the fish will be safely recompressed.

No floaters, those are your trophy fish of the future.

11-09-2015, 09:01 AM	#12
bolocop Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Posts: 332	Venting is not recommended and it makes sense not to poke a hole in the air bladder. What I have done in the past is make a recompression tool. I used a long-shanked hook and pressed in the barb. You attach the weight to the eye of the hook and attach the line to the bend in the hook. Yes, you use the hook upside-down. You then hook the rockfish through the lower lip and drop everything in the water. At about 100 ft, yank up on rod and the fish will be safely recompressed. No floaters, those are your trophy fish of the future.