Quote from: polepole on May 01, 2024, 03:56:32 PM

Quote from: AlsHobieOutback on May 01, 2024, 12:56:36 PM

Quote from: Bulldog---Alex on May 01, 2024, 12:20:34 PM

Has anyone tested retrieving what might be a larger fish at slower retrieval from deeper water? I will try and report when the time arises.

I have not had issues with barotrauma at inshore  because most of my inshore fishing in a kayak is usually no more than 80 ft in places I frequent around the Monterey bay

According to this PDF from the DFG on barotrauma: https://nrm.dfg.ca.gov/FileHandler.ashx?DocumentID=36345

Myth: Reeling a fish in slowly prevents barotrauma.
Fact: Rockfish cannot acclimate to the pressure drop even when reeled in slowly.

Quote

Myth: You can tell by looking whether a fish will survive or die.

According to published results of a Sea Grant
study led by researchers at Cal State Long Beach:
The degree of barotrauma in a fish is not a reliable
predictor of its survival. The most significant
predictor of post-release survivorship is the time a
fish spends at the surface.

Descend them all please, regardless of what they look like.

-Allen

If a fish can go down on it's own, lets say quick release at the water line, does that also mean that it's being less subjugated to the stress of barotrauma?

I have not had issues with barotrauma at inshore  because most of my inshore fishing in a kayak is usually no more than 80 ft in places I frequent around the Monterey bay

I pulled up this 28" yelloweye from 120 ft. I had to keep adding weights to the descender. It took over four pounds of lead to finally descend her. Since then, I pack a 5 lb lead ball with me and it works 100% of the time.

Barotrauma varies with each individual fish. Some come up bloated, others seem to swim back down on their own. Yelloweye seem to suffer barotrauma the most frequently, even when reeled up from 90-100 ft. Reeling them up slowly will not make a difference. Rockfish have a physoclistous swim bladder. The gas exchange occurs via the bloodstream.

Pack a 5 lb lead ball with you, and you'll be set. Pack less at your own/the fish's risk.

Looks like the selection committee has picked the team members. From California we have: Allen Sansano, Annie Nagel, and Elsa Flores. Looking forward to these 3 taking the top spots for Team USA. Full Team USA here:

https://usangling.org/kayak-saltwater-pan-am-2024/

While I realize we need a descending device, at what depth do you need to use it for the fish to survive?

Hope you’re all able to keep it clean..performance enhancing drugs and all ….steroids and HGH use among competitive anglers is on the rise …

Finally getting recognition for the finely tuned athletes that we are.