Using descending device for RF in 50 fathom depth

I've never used a descending device before. I've also never caught rockfish / Lingcod in 50 fathom / 300 FOW. If you catch rockfish in that deep of water, does coming to the surface typically kill them, so one can't really do CNR?

This is a great question.  I have seen in others' reports that many rockfish that come up from 300'+ are alive but look mortally wounded to me.  With eyes bulging out and "crystalized" due to air bubbles escaping their bloodstream, and their air bladder blown out the mouth, it looks to me like descending isn't going to protect the health of the fish.

Personally, I think that opening fishing to over 300' for certain months is a mistake due to this issue.

"The most important factor affecting release mortality in snapper was depth of capture, i.e. the cause of death was barotrauma. Post-release mortality of snapper from less than 30m depth was low (3.4%), with an increase to a high rate of mortality (69%) at 45m and 65m."

From this site:  https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/boating/74819080/how-to-release-fish-caught-in-deep-water

Personally, I think that opening fishing to over 300' for certain months is a mistake due to this issue.

Certainly, the mortality rate was factored into the calculation to allow fishing at such depths.

There is significant mortality increase at depths greater than 50 fathoms, even with the use of descending devices.  More info here, https://www.pcouncil.org/documents/2022/11/h-4-a-supplemental-gmt-report-3.pdf/

-Allen

What you should aim for is not catching small fish that you do not want to keep and descend.
Do not fish at the bottom, crank your gear up at least 6 turns up.
If your gear is close to the bottom or at the bottom, you will likely catch small Rosy RF.
The larger fish will still hit your offering. Watch your FF, there are a lot of suspended Verms,  Canaries and Bococcio's that are aggressive. The Canaries and Verms will hit hard and pull your line down.
The Bococcio's sometimes swim around after swallowing your gear and you can't feel their weight right away.

Personally, I think that opening fishing to over 300' for certain months is a mistake due to this issue.

Certainly, the mortality rate was factored into the calculation to allow fishing at such depths.

Certainly.

-Allen

my son and I fished a party boat a few years ago, they would put the fish in an upside down milkcrate that was waited, and send them to the depths.  Not sure how effective it was at keeping them alive.

The lowest mortality rate while using descenders for 50-100 fathoms in the document I shared was 38% for Demersal guild rockfish.  The next lowest was 92% for the Pelagic Guild which includes many deep water rockfish like boccacio, chillipepper, olive, widow, and yellowtail.  Honestly, they shouldn't even allow release (except for prohibited species) for the deep water rockfish fishery.  Keep every one you catch, regardless of size and species, until your limit is reached.

-Allen

Honestly, they shouldn't even allow release (except for prohibited species) for the deep water rockfish fishery.  Keep every one you catch, regardless of size and species, until your limit is reached.

-Allen

I agree with this 100%

Oh, one more thing.  At 100+ fathoms the mortality rate is 100% even if descenders are used.

-Allen

Honestly, they shouldn't even allow release (except for prohibited species) for the deep water rockfish fishery.  Keep every one you catch, regardless of size and species, until your limit is reached.

-Allen

I agree with this 100%

+1