A Rockfishing 'Must Have'

[dos ballenas]

Originally Posted by jorluivil

I could be wrong but I believe what they don't want you to do is puncture the stomach with any sort of tool which is very common. The venting tool goes into the fishes stomach area but as far as I know it never touches/punctures the stomach.

Well, you're obviously puncturing something!!!! Which is never good... seriously... there are easier more effective ways to let rockfish go. But yes thanks for bring this topic up....

There are SEVERAL new devices on the market which allow you to release undesired rock fish back at depth with OUT puncturing them (where ever that might be). These devices are simple in concept and simple to use.

The most obvious problem with barotrauma (what happens to fish when they are reeled from deep water to the surface) is most fish can't swim back to deeper water on their own. If they could they would recove for the most parts on their own. But as it turns out all the air that expanded from their swim bladders makes it hard for them to swim down. It seems that all fish need sometimes is a little help.

Recent studies have shown that if you send fish back down to deep water and let them go they often survive. The problem is, how do you release fish in deep water (where they LIVE)?

There are several products available that can successfully release fish at depth.

http://www.saltwatersportsman.com/te...ps/seaqualizer

http://theseaqualizer.com/SeaQualize...e/Welcome.html

http://www.ecoleeser.com/

These devices are recommended over the old fashioned puncture method. I saw them ALL at the Fred Hall show and they ALL work...

or if you can't buy those products you can simply crush a barb on one of your hooks, send the the fish down, and then jerk the rod tip up thereby releasing the fish at depth..... all on your own.


This link provided information on a study conducted last year by scientist in La Jolla.

http://swfsc.noaa.gov/barotrauma/

Click on the link and watch the video!

[kareem korn]

A milk crate with 100' of rope works better.

[dos ballenas]

Originally Posted by kareem korn

A milk crate with 100' of rope works better.

[TJones]

i have to give credit. way to go for trying. atleast someone is thinking about conservation and making an attempt , right or wrong.

[Mackerel Masher]

When fishing for bottom dwellers I have a spare set-up ready go. Pretty much a single hook rockcod rig with the point on the hook cut off and rounded. I lip the fish with the hook pressed in his mouth and then put the reel in freespool with the other hand. The large sinker (1-2lb) on the end of the rig just tows the little guy back down. No jerking or popping a barbless hook out of the guy.

I have a vent on the boat too and have used it with about a 65% success rate. It sucks to see the fish swimming down only to have him pop back up again.

The sinker/hook method has been 100%.

[bus kid]

Just catch 5 and call it a day. Big or small they all tase the same.

[addicted2sp33d]

Originally Posted by bus kid

Just catch 5 and call it a day. Big or small they all tase the same.

The Asians' preferred rockfish venting tool:

[vincentek9]

use a small upside-down crate with weights tied on each corner. have a rope tied in the middle.. put fish in water (its floating still). put crate over fish. lower it 20-50ft. let sit for a second or two. raise back up.. FISH HAS SWAM DOWN!

[jorluivil]

Originally Posted by TJones

i have to give credit. way to go for trying. atleast someone is thinking about conservation and making an attempt , right or wrong.

Thanks for the vote!!!!

The fact that the topic continues to be discussed is a huge plus for all of us. Maybe the Ventafish isn't the safest or best way to get those fish back to their depths but its a start, better to give them a chance than to just release them and have them float around until some pelican or albatross picks them up.

[Jimmyz123]

Originally Posted by jorluivil

Thanks for the vote!!!!

The fact that the topic continues to be discussed is a huge plus for all of us. Maybe the Ventafish isn't the safest or best way to get those fish back to their depths but its a start, better to give them a chance than to just release them and have them float around until some pelican or albatross picks them up.

Excellent point. I have been on boats where we were catching fish that were not worth taking home, and could not get them down. Doing something is better than doing nothing. Whatever works for you is great let's just keep trying to get them to go down for safe releases.