Seaqualizer tool for baratrauma release.

This looks like an interesting device, with less chance of sticking yourself with a sharp hook attached to a weight.

http://www.theseaqualizer.com/SeaQualizer/Welcome.html

The SeaQualizer ™ has a locking grip that fastens to a fish’s jaw much like a scale or release device. It also contains an internal pressure chamber and a three-setting adjustment knob at its opposite end. This adjustment controls the pressure at which the jaws open to release the fish. It can be set to open at 50, 100 or 150 feet.

Liederman confirms that this process is much easier for both angler and fish than venting. Plus it’s not necessary to lower the fish to the bottom. Based on the depth you’re fishing, recompression can be successful at 50 feet, 100 feet or 150 feet. If you’re bottomfishing in 100 feet of water, the shallow setting should suffice. Between 100 and 200 feet, the midrange setting should work, and beyond 200 feet, the deep setting. And how do you know exactly how deep the device (and fish) really is? Simply mark the line on the release rod at 50-foot intervals.

At what depth is it necessary to be concerned about barotrauma?

Looks like 30-50' is minimum depth for concern. Probably depends on rate of ascent, too. Anyone ever jury rig a standard lip gripper with a release line and weight?

Looks like a pretty nifty and effective system.

A simple method I've used is to tie a 1 or 2 wrap clinch knot through the lip. Add some weight above a swivel and lower, the clinch knot pulls through with little effort and the fish is released.

I talked to a guy who took part in the live fish fishery at Port Orford. They catch bottom fish with standard fishing gear and ship them live to restaurants in California. He was telling me that what they did with released fish was to prick them along the backbone with a hypodermic needle minus the plunger to release the gas in their bladder or whatever that is called along the backbone, and then let them go. I don't know if that works but that's what he told me they did when releasing fish. Anyone else heard of that?

Actually, they were pricking all the fish since they were trying to keep them alive to sell live. I've watched them offload at the dock there and they do have a fair number of dead fish on board but mostly alive.

I read that puncturing the swim bladder reduces survival rate.

I like the design behind it, someone was really thinking, and for a power boat it would make great sense. It might be better for kayaking if the weight and the release where one unit but since you need both a heavy weight and the bulky release it seems a bit cumbersome for the kayak.  I'm a big fan of the "device" below.  Its hard to improve on simplicity.

Probably depends on rate of ascent, too.

Wish that were true, IH, I really do. The only non-traumatic way for a rockfish to equalize pressure is via gas exchange through the bloodstream.  It would take many hours to avoid barotrauma naturally.  The damage is done well before that.  Fizzing and resubmergence merely give the fish a small chance at healing the damage it has already suffered.

But, we do our best, and I have to agree with PP on his compact device.

Thanks YM. So how often and why do you release bottom fish?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Thanks YM. So how often and why do you release bottom fish?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

We only have to really worry about Yelloweye and Canary rockfish here in Oregon.  I have yet to ever catch either one, so I haven't had to use my fish sinker yet.  Mine is very similar to Ron's design using a barbless sturgeon hook.

Here is another option for Release of fish suffering from Barotrauma.  The RokLees, Fish Descender is available to assist in returning fish suffering from barotrauma without further injuring the fish. 

You can check out the device at the links below and I tried attaching a picture, hope it works.
 
You simply open the device and put jaws of the device on the fish with the tab on the bottom lip of the fish.    Once you get to the depth you want to release, you just jerk up on the rod and the fish comes off and swims away.  The release depth depends on the depth the fish is caught.   Generally you can release the fish at 1/3 to ˝ the depth the fish is caught, but never deeper than caught.  The RokLees is made to release fish less than 3 pounds.   Larger fish can be released by keeping the fish in the water and adding additional weight.   I mark my line on my release rod so I know when to release.

You can check a video of using the release on Youtube. 

This link shows the underwater release of a rockfish. 

You can check out the product and barotrauma here http://www.ecoleeser.com/product.html

More info on Rockfish and barotrauma is available at http://rockcodfishing.wordpress.com/

RokFish

Pretty slick Rokfish. 
It would be convienent to have a dedicated rod for releasing fish, but not really practical in a kayak though.

These are the best $6 I've spent to release deep fish. It hooks up inline, so I use my jig to take the fish back down.

http://www.sheltonproducts.com/SFD.html

Using a plastic lip gripper, along with a weight attached, can also work!

Using a plastic lip gripper, along with a weight attached, can also work!

Didn't Noah try that on a ling last time we were at Depoe Bay.  If I remember right he didn't use weight and he forgot to attach it to his rod.  Also, He forgot Lings don't suffer from barotrauma.