Quick deep release can save rockfish

A Southeast goldeneye rockfish with the bulging eyes reflective of too-rapid travel to the surface. Quick release devices can save most rockfish with these “bends” symptoms if released quickly.

Anyone who has fished for deepwater species in Alaska has done it.

You bring a fish up from 200-300 feet of water and discover it’s a rockfish, half-dead, with its swim bladder bulging out it’s mouth.  If you’re lucky, you have not yet filled your limit of non-pelagic rockfish and just add it to the fish box.

But too often, these victims of rapid decompression come after you’ve limited out and you have to release them.  The good news is that there are ways you can quickly get that fish deep again, where it has a high percentage of recovery.  Compared to zero change, it’s just thrown back.

ADF&G has a detailed list of tips, videos and deep-release device information on its website.  Before you head out for your next deep water trip, take a few minutes to learn the techniques, and rig up a quick release device (which can be nothing more than a several pound weigh, a barbless hook and cord to drop the fish deep and retrieve the weight.

http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=fishingSportFishingInfo.rockfishconservation&utm_content=&utm_medium=email&utm_name=&utm_source=govdelivery&utm_term=

And beyond these tips, be responsible and leave an area where you start catching rockfish beyond your limit.