Post by: ouchfoss on June 02, 2010, 10:12:28 AM
Post by: GoldTip on June 02, 2010, 10:54:10 AM
Post by: ouchfoss on June 02, 2010, 11:15:51 AM
Post by: lokidog on June 02, 2010, 11:38:24 AM
I purchased a venting tool from Cabelas for about $20. They are required to use them in the Gulf of Mexico when releasing fish. Most of my rockfish this year have not been bloated too much to swim back down.
The one Yelloweye we got was so I tried the tool and it worked great, he swam right back down after a bump from my rod tip. It was well worth the cost to not see that fish eaten by gulls or sharks like happens more oout on the coast.
Post by: carpsniperg2 on June 02, 2010, 11:58:36 AM
also great fish :tup:
Post by: ouchfoss on June 02, 2010, 12:07:59 PM
Nice halibut!
I purchased a venting tool from Cabelas for about $20. They are required to use them in the Gulf of Mexico when releasing fish. Most of my rockfish this year have not been bloated too much to swim back down.
The one Yelloweye we got was so I tried the tool and it worked great, he swam right back down after a bump from my rod tip. It was well worth the cost to not see that fish eaten by gulls or sharks like happens more oout on the coast.
We actually tried to pop his air bladder with a fillet knife and tossed him back but he must have been too far gone by that point. I will definetly have a venting tool on hand next time I go though.
Post by: MtnMuley on June 02, 2010, 12:26:48 PM
Post by: Whitenuckles on June 02, 2010, 07:13:46 PM
Post by: lokidog on June 02, 2010, 08:11:58 PM
Nice halibut!
I purchased a venting tool from Cabelas for about $20. They are required to use them in the Gulf of Mexico when releasing fish. Most of my rockfish this year have not been bloated too much to swim back down.
The one Yelloweye we got was so I tried the tool and it worked great, he swam right back down after a bump from my rod tip. It was well worth the cost to not see that fish eaten by gulls or sharks like happens more oout on the coast.
We actually tried to pop his air bladder with a fillet knife and tossed him back but he must have been too far gone by that point. I will definetly have a venting tool on hand next time I go though.
Did you pop the thing sticking out of his throat? That is actually the stomach which gets pushed out by the expanding bladder. Puncturing the stomach, even if the fish is able to swim down, will probably kill the fish by infecdtion, just like a person with a herniated bowel. A knife cut, placed in the correect position (45 degree angle toward the head an inch and a half behind the pectoral fin), will not heal as quickly as the needle puncture and also increases the risk of hitting other organs. Worth a try I guess if nothing else is available.
It also helps to try to revive by moving back and forth if they have been out of the water long or are worn out.
Good fishing!
Post by: ouchfoss on June 02, 2010, 09:38:18 PM
Im kinda surprised there isnt anything in the fishing regs that talks about this type of situation considering how many people probably reel these fish in while they are halibut fishing in deep water. Im sure alot more of these fish would survive if it was common knowledge and a common practice to bring a vent tool with.
I dont fish saltwater too often so this is all kinda new to me.
Post by: robodad on June 02, 2010, 10:06:13 PM
I also have a really short stubby pole with a crap reel on it and a 16oz lead head barbless jig and the line is attached to the eye but then half hitched to the shank of the hook, then I just hook the fish in the lip and send it down then when it gets near the bottom or so I just stop the reel from free spooling and wait till the tugging stops then just reel the jig back up !! Works really good and I think better then the milk crate !!!
Post by: lokidog on June 02, 2010, 10:29:25 PM
Still a bunch of crap that they shut down the coppers, seems to be more of them around here than four years ago, though I know the waters a bit better as well.