Nice article: Release methods for rockfish

It's not really time for rockfishing but came across a nice article that covers a lot of questions about how to deal with fish suffering from barotrauma. http://seagrant.oregonstate.edu/sgpubs/onlinepubs/g05001.pdf

Z

Thanks Z. 

Very informative post.  Was wondering if there were other methods than the bulky inverted milk crate or the invasive venting method. 

I am from the camp that if you can get them down a good portion will survive. I have sent dozens down with this rig this summer.  It is rigged so the snap attaches to the eye of the jig or to the line above the eye of the jig so you don't have to cut your jig off and tie it on.. I am using mostly 3-6 oz jigs plus the 32oz ball (almost 40oz) and I have sent some big "orange fish" down with no problem.  Hook the fish through the lip (hook is barbless) and free spool it down and give it a firm tug once you hit the bottom.  My personal rule is if I catch 2 "orange fish" in a short period of time I change areas, often times paddling 50 to 100 yards is more than enough to "get away from" a school etc.

I like to use the Shelton Fish Descender rigged in-line, but with a 3-5 oz iron lure while fishing deeper for lingzilla.

Jay

I am from the camp that if you can get them down a good portion will survive. I have sent dozens down with this rig this summer.  It is rigged so the snap attaches to the eye of the jig or to the line above the eye of the jig so you don't have to cut your jig off and tie it on.. I am using mostly 3-6 oz jigs plus the 32oz ball (almost 40oz) and I have sent some big "orange fish" down with no problem.  Hook the fish through the lip (hook is barbless) and free spool it down and give it a firm tug once you hit the bottom.  My personal rule is if I catch 2 "orange fish" in a short period of time I change areas, often times paddling 50 to 100 yards is more than enough to "get away from" a school etc.

 

I am from the camp that if you can get them down a good portion will survive. I have sent dozens down with this rig this summer.  It is rigged so the snap attaches to the eye of the jig or to the line above the eye of the jig so you don't have to cut your jig off and tie it on.. I am using mostly 3-6 oz jigs plus the 32oz ball (almost 40oz) and I have sent some big "orange fish" down with no problem.  Hook the fish through the lip (hook is barbless) and free spool it down and give it a firm tug once you hit the bottom.  My personal rule is if I catch 2 "orange fish" in a short period of time I change areas, often times paddling 50 to 100 yards is more than enough to "get away from" a school etc.

Damn fine post Pelagic!  Simple and effective.