Releasing rockfish - Do it Right

Send that rockfish down - don't vent it if you can avoid it!

DFG put out a news release on it...now for them to work on making this regulation (IMO)  Very nice PDF

http://www.dfg.ca.gov/marine/pdfs/release.pdf

(also attached in case they change the link around)

Fish shallow!

i always have a decender rod rigged. cameron

Fish shallow!

Yeah, this has been working for me. If I fish over about 60ft I'm using big honker lures and planning not to release. I generally only hook lings on the big stuff, & they release just fine.

BUT, I don't discount the effectiveness of the descenders, and think they are a HUGE step up from the "venting" technique that probably kills as many as it may save.

sin coast uses an alligator clip. seems like a simple idea

In that brochure, they have a pic on the FC (right-side) of a fish attached to the fancy-new descender (looks like a maglite w/spring-operated clamp attached). I played with one that the DFG has, but unfortunately it isn't practical for a kayak = too heavy. Plus it's expensive and you need to dedicate a rod to it, specifically [aka can't rig it inline above your lure]...in which case you might as well use the upside-down milk crate trick.
I'll continue using the Shelton Fish Descenders and/or a simple alligator clip rigged inline above my lure (on my dedicated big-lure rod). You will need at least 6oz to send a 4lb RF back to depth, depending on how deep you caught it.

i always have a decender rod rigged. cameron

I am with you Cameron. I have an old lever drag reel that lowers a heavy weighted  Sheldon descender ....hands free. Set it in motion and let her go......

i wonder if you have a descender rod rigged with an upside barbless attached to a sinker if the dfg would consider that fishing with a second rod.  if its got a sheldon on it that makes sense, but if its a real hook?  who knows what a warden would think...

Snell a barbless hook upside down about 14 inches above an 8oz diamond jig. Put your main rod away, descend fish and work jig till you're ready to swap.   

I think I have one of those desenders not sure I will post pic latter! Got it from The store @ Albion last year they were giving them away.....