Video - Rockfish Descender - How many people carry a Descender and use it

After catching several yelloweyes, I am considering purchasing a Shelton Fish Descender (SFD).
I know I can make a similar device but I thought this was a reasonable price.

However, before I place an order, I want to make sure a descender is practical to use on a kayak.  I want to simple fishing set up but this would add another device to carry.

Do you guys carry a descender and use it?

Thank you for your advice.

I got to use the SFD twice during my last trip.





Paul


Conclusion
Thank you guys for the great information.
My final Descender design is using Shelton Fish Descender with two 8 oz weights and a bungee. 
I will add additional weight based on the fish size and plan to carry this in my kayak side pocket.
The attached is a photo.

I hope I can save some rockfish with this tool.

Yes and yes.  YE school, if you catch 2 it’s time to move. Please descend YE.

I wish CA would make carrying and using descenders mandatory.

They are mandatory up here just north of the state of Jefferson, if you carry multiple rods just hook it up to one that you typically use as backup or hell take an old busted one with just one eye on it with an old reel and rig it.... takes up less room and is readily available to save time.

Yes and yes.  YE school, if you catch 2 it’s time to move. Please descend YE.

I wish CA would make carrying and using descenders mandatory.

What size weight do you use with your descender?

Any group purchase idea for descenders?

Paul

Archie Marx’s homemade version works pretty well.

Yes and yes.  YE school, if you catch 2 it’s time to move. Please descend YE.

I wish CA would make carrying and using descenders mandatory.

What size weight do you use with your descender?

Any group purchase idea for descenders?

Paul

16oz ball attaches with a couple 2 lbs dive weights available to attach to it if I need to add weight. I never catch YE, never seen one, but if I did I heard it can take up to 5 lbs to descend a big one.

You can get a descender for free from

https://oceaned.org/request-devices/

But go ahead and send a donation if you can afford it, these folks do good work.

I use a 12oz torpedo on my descender with a short piece of bungie (as per the instructions). I keep just keep it handy in my side pocket or hull. The change out is pretty quick.

I use a 12oz torpedo on my descender with a short piece of bungie (as per the instructions). I keep just keep it handy in my side pocket or hull. The change out is pretty quick.

Great idea. 
Where do you attach the bungie?  I didn't see any instruction for using a bundie.

Paul

Yes and yes.  YE school, if you catch 2 it’s time to move. Please descend YE.

I wish CA would make carrying and using descenders mandatory.

What size weight do you use with your descender?

Any group purchase idea for descenders?

Paul

16oz ball attaches with a couple 2 lbs dive weights available to attach to it if I need to add weight. I never catch YE, never seen one, but if I did I heard it can take up to 5 lbs to descend a big one.

You can get a descender for free from

https://oceaned.org/request-devices/

But go ahead and send a donation if you can afford it, these folks do good work.

Thank you for the information.

I am thinking about ordering directly from Shelton Products and distribute to NCKA members.

Great idea. 
Where do you attach the bungie?  I didn't see any instruction for using a bundie.

Paul

The bungie goes between the descender and the weight.  It either helps soften the release of the fish and/or assists in the process.  When I drop it down, I can feel the fish become lively when it reaches the proper depth. Then I give the rod a quick snap/yank and usually the fish pops off the first try. Easy peasy

What size weight do you use with your descender?

Any group purchase idea for descenders?

Paul

I use a 5 pound cannonball with mine.  Correction: I carry a 5 pound weight since I haven't (yet) needed to use a descender.

You asked about rigging a bungee.  If the OCEAN site doesn't talk about it, you can find out more about rigging effective rockfish descenders on the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife website.  Rigged between the descender and the amount of weight you need to get a large fish back, it allows you to yank the descender upwards quickly to release the fish without having to fight the weight.

You might consider a group donation to OCEAN to get a bunch of descenders.  Shelton still gets paid and you'd be helping an organization that does good work at the same time.  Just sayin'.

... I heard it can take up to 5 lbs to descend a big one.

Seems like kind of a pain to deal with a 5 lb weight on a kayak...

... I heard it can take up to 5 lbs to descend a big one.

Seems like kind of a pain to deal with a 5 lb weight on a kayak...

It’s also a pain to go over our YE limit and have our all depth fishery cancelled.

It’s actually not that hard to add weight and descend a YE.  Usually you are descending little canaries which are notorious floaters and which you should absolutely be descending but 1 lbs is more than enough to send one of those back down.  It’s those times you get a 10+ lbs YE that you need the weight for.  I just snap them on to the bottom of my bungee.  It works really well.  Keep them right behind the seat or even under the seat.  Dive weights are easier to deal with than weights that roll roll around.

... I heard it can take up to 5 lbs to descend a big one.

Seems like kind of a pain to deal with a 5 lb weight on a kayak...

Exactly - who wants to carry all that lead for descending?

I caught about a 15 pound YE a ways off of Tolo a few years ago and it took every piece of lead that I had on board to get it down.  It was a beautiful fish, and what I'd assumed for years had come true - when you drape a herring down at 200' hoping for a Pacific halibut, you sometimes get a beautiful rockfish that shouldn't be at sea level.  I like our depth limit of 120' up here, and I rarely fish it.  I haven't had to descend any fish at all other than that YE in years, and I go a lot...   

I like your effort and your message here, Paul.  Nice work.

Have one, use it, that's all....