1
General Fishing Tips / Re: Descender Weight
« on: April 30, 2024, 07:03:07 PM »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.
This. And, descend all rockfish you are releasing, whether it appears like it needs to or not. It’s best for ALL fish.
-Allen